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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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Editor's Note A new drug is giving surgeons a sharper view of cancer in the OR and helping preserve healthy tissue, Fast Company August 28 reports. Cytalux is an FDA-approved fluorescent agent that makes cancer cells glow green under infrared light, allowing surgeons to spot and remove malignant lesions with…

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Editor's Note The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a series of early alerts this month regarding high-risk recalls from several leading medical device makers, citing patient safety risks ranging from pump failures to vascular complications. These alerts highlight issues with products from Johnson & Johnson’s (J&J’s) Abiomed unit,…

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