WHO: Virus transmission airborne, not limited to droplets
Editor's Note In a move one expert calls “a complete U-turn,” the World Health Organization (WHO) has concluded that viruses transmit through primarily the air via inhalation of tiny suspended particles of saliva and mucus, KFF Health News reported on May 1. Until now, health authorities have relied on the…
Physician opinions on generative artificial intelligence reverse course, trend positive
Editor's Note Nearly 7 in 10 physicians responding to a recent Wolters Kluwer Health survey report that their views on the healthcare benefits of generative artificial intelligence (AI) have shifted in a positive direction during the past year. Detailed in an April 16 report, the survey also reveals that 40%…
FDA medical device Class 1 recalls trend upward
Editor's Note The number of US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Class 1 recalls—the most serious classification—for medical devices has been trending upwards. Regulatory News, a publication of the Regulatory Affairs Professional Society (RAPS), reported the news April 25. According to the report, Anne Reid, program director of the Office…
Data cast doubt on recommendation to delay weight-loss meds prior to surgery
Editor's Note A recent analysis of insurance claims data suggests weight-loss medications like Ozempic (semaglutide), Trulicity (dulaglutide), and other glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists do not increase risks associated with undergoing anesthesia. As reported April 22 in MedPage Today, these finding that contradicts a June 2023 recommendation from the American Society of…
Surgical site infections often caused by preexisting bacteria
Editor's Note Most healthcare-associated surgical site infections are not caused by pathogens acquired in the hospital, but by previously harmless bacteria already present on patients’ skin prior to being admitted, according to a study published April 10 in Science Translational Medicine. Surgical site infections account for the highest annual costs…
The Joint Commission launches new telehealth accreditation program
Editor's Note Effective July 1, telehealth providers can apply for a new Joint Commission accreditation designed to ensure safe, high-quality care. Announced April 23 by The Joint Commission, the new Telehealth Accreditation Program is designed for organizations that exclusively provide care, treatment and services via telehealth. Hospitals and other healthcare…
FDA announces class 1 recall for disposable biopsy needle kit
Editor's Note Microscopic stainless steel debris on the insides of biopsy needles prompted the FDA to issue a class 1 recall—indicating risk of death or serious injury—for Elekta Instrument’s Disposable Biopsy Needle Kit, which is used with the Leksell Stereotactic System for brain tissue sampling during neurosurgery, the disposable biopsy…
Death, hospital readmission less likely for women treated by female doctors
Editor's Note A new study showing women treated by female doctors are less likely to die or be readmitted to the hospital adds to the growing body of evidence that women and minorities tend to receive worse medical care than men and white patients, NBC News reported April 22. Published…
FDA announces class 1 recalls for infusion pumps, anesthesia workstation
Editor's Note Reports of spontaneous backup battery failure in Dreager Inc.’s Perseus A500 anesthesia workstation and multiple failures in InfuTronix, LLC’s Nimbus infusion pump systems prompted the FDA to classify manufacturer recalls as class 1, the most serious categorization indicating risk of serious harm or death. According to an April…
Joint replacement manufacturer recalls products after FDA packaging warning
Editor's Note A January complaint about inefficient packaging for joint replacement products has prompted the manufacturer to recall certain knee and shoulder system devices after initially declining to take the products off the market, according to an April 23 report in Health Exec. The manufacturer, Exactech, is now recalling a…
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- Sameness in nursing care puts patients at risk
- CMS’s plan to phase out inpatient-only list could bolster rural ASCs
- AAAHC unveils v44 standards to sharpen focus on patient-centered ambulatory care
- UCSF pioneers robotic surgery assistant certification for medical students
- Nursing demand drops in Q2 as healthcare hiring shifts toward physicians, pharmacy
- Pilot study suggests robotic force feedback may reduce tissue trauma in colorectal surgery
- Cryo nerve ablation cuts pain, narcotic use after heart surgery
- Study finds no link between long-standing preprocedural fasting and aspiration pneumonia risk
- Medicare Advantage patients see lower perioperative costs than traditional Medicare peers