Immersed in texts, apps, QR codes, and streaming videos, we live in a digital world. And yet, healthcare has been slow to catch up. Most nurses and other staff still hand out packets of paper and relay information verbally, whether in person or over the phone. It does not have…

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Editor’s Note Entities covered by the HIPAA security rule may soon need to adapt to more prescriptive requirements, new compliance mandates, and significantly higher costs, according to a January 24 report from TechTarget. As outlined in a December notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM), the proposal by the Department of Health…

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Editor's Note The Supreme Court’s 2023 decision limiting race in college admissions has triggered an overzealous response from many medical schools, leading to a sharp decline in enrollment for underrepresented groups, according to an article published January 23 in STAT.  As detailed in the article, Legal advisors have pushed schools…

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Editor’s Note Healthcare systems are increasingly establishing long-term collaborations with medical technology companies with the goal of modernizing technology and streamlining operations through ongoing training and consultation services. Modern Healthcare reported the news January 24. Involving substantial financial investments, these collaborations redefine vendor relationships as more strategic and relational, the…

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Editor's Note Health system leaders expect to face mounting physician challenges, shifting reimbursement models, and new growth opportunities throughout this year, according to VMG Health’s Health System Leader Expectations survey. Based on responses from 73 health system leaders, the report highlights the sector’s key trends and priorities for 2025. Key…

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Editor’s Note Despite being the largest healthcare workforce, nurses are cited in just 4% of health news stories, a statistic unchanged since 1997, according to researchers writing in the January issue of the Journal of Nursing Administration. However, a new initiative aims to change the equation. Titled Nurses’ Voices in…

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Editor's Note Hospital credit ratings in 2024 reflected mixed trends, with downgrades continuing to outpace upgrades, though at a slower rate than in 2023, according to a January 22 report from Kaufman Hall. The organization cites 5 key takeaways: Downgrades narrowed but persisted. The number of downgrades dropped to 95…

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Editor's Note Escalating administrative hurdles from insurers are heightening tensions between healthcare payers and providers who criticize the measures for threatening patient care, Modern Healthcare reported January 22. According to the article, policies attracting criticism include stringent prior authorization rules, claims denials, and new fees for appeals. For their part,…

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Editor's Note An EHR-integrated closed-loop clinical decision support system (CDSS) significantly reduced unnecessary preoperative testing, improved patient safety, and significantly reduced costs across two hospitals in Madrid, Spain. As detailed in a study published January 3 in npj digital medicine, this system demonstrates the potential of automated guidelines to optimize…

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Editor's Note New infection control recommendations from the American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine (ASRA Pain Medicine) are purportedly the first comprehensive guidelines tailored specifically for regional anesthesia and interventional pain management procedures, such as cortisone injections and drug-delivery implants.   As detailed in the organization’s January 21…

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