Editor's Note Artificial intelligence use in healthcare is accelerating, and the American Medical Association (AMA) is pressing health systems to establish clear governance policies before the technology outpaces oversight. Nearly 70% of physicians reported using artificial intelligence tools in 2024, a sharp rise from 38% in 2023, AMA News Wire…

Read More

What happens when a veteran perioperative leader walks away from the 24/7 responsibility of hospital operations, but not from the work she loves? For Stephanie Davis, MSHA, RN, CNOR, CSSM, former vice president of surgical services at HCA Healthcare, it meant reshaping her role from full-time healthcare executive to expert…

Read More

Editor's Note Hospitals will soon face stronger accountability for suicide prevention, as The Joint Commission prepares to implement “National Performance Goal (NPG) 8” on January 1, 2026, its September 3 news update reports. The goal, titled “The hospital reduces the risk for suicide,” replaces current requirements under “National Patient Safety…

Read More

Editor's Note A simple adjustment to walking style can relieve osteoarthritis pain as well as medication and may delay the need for knee surgery, according to a year-long clinical trial published in The Lancet Rheumatology and covered by The Independent on August 18. As detailed in the article, University of…

Read More

The migration of surgical cases from inpatient settings to ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) continues to reshape perioperative leadership in 2025. Nationally, the trend is driven by payer incentives, patient preference, and cost pressures, with ASCs now performing more orthopedic, spine, and complex outpatient procedures than ever before. In fact, the…

Read More

Editor's Note A malpractice case involving a 69-year-old man undergoing an endoscopy at an ambulatory surgery center (ASC) spotlights the risks of managing high-comorbidity patients outside a hospital setting. According to a May 13 report in Anesthesiology News, the patient experienced a hypoxic event that led to permanent brain injury…

Read More

Editor's Note Laser cataract surgery is entering a new era where robotic systems and artificial intelligence (AI) work alongside surgeons to improve accuracy, efficiency, and patient outcomes. According to the July/August 2025 edition of Ophthalmology Times, recent advances in robotic integration, astigmatism management, and AI-driven imaging are minimizing variability, reducing…

Read More

Editor's Note The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is moving to eliminate its Inpatient Only (IPO) List over the next 3 years, a decision that could permanently shift more surgical procedures from hospitals to outpatient settings. According to an August 24 article from Fierce Healthcare, the policy promises…

Read More

Editor's Note The American College of Surgeons (ACS) has released updated Best Practices Guidelines for the Management of Genitourinary Injuries, providing trauma teams with evidence-based recommendations to improve outcomes for patients with injuries to the kidneys, bladder, ureters, urethra, and genitalia. According to an ACS August 26 news release, the…

Read More

Editor's Note Minimally invasive surgery can extend beyond valve replacement to complex aortic procedures without sacrificing safety or long-term outcomes. According to an August 21 news update from the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, a new study of 796 patients found adding ascending aortic or hemiarch replacement to…

Read More