Editor's Note Northwestern Medicine has partnered with robotic technology firm Vitestro to test and validate the safety and effectiveness of autonomous blood draw technology, according to a March 20 announcement from the health system. The multi-year collaboration centers on Aletta, billed as the world’s first Autonomous Robotic Phlebotomy Device (ARPD),…

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Editor's Note A large-scale study of over 50,000 ambulatory surgery center (ASC) procedures shows a strikingly low rate of 24-hour unplanned postoperative hospital admissions, offering a benchmark that other ASCs can strive to match, General Surgery News March 26 reports. Over a 7-year period from 2016 to 2022, researchers at…

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Editor's Note Surgeons at Northwestern Medicine have performed the first U.S. case of resection and partial liver transplantation with delayed total hepatectomy (RAPID) to treat metastatic colorectal cancer, according to a March 18 article in Healio. The procedure, which allows a transplanted liver segment to grow before fully replacing a…

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Editor's Note The bipartisan Medical Supply Chain Resiliency Act would grant the president expanded authority to negotiate trade deals and modify tariffs on medical goods, according to a March 14 report from Fierce Healthcare. The bill, backed by pharmaceutical and healthcare industry groups, aims to strengthen the US medical supply…

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Editor's Note Legislation introduced in the US House of Representatives seeks to expand access to anesthesia care for veterans by granting Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) full practice authority within the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). The Ensuring Veterans Timely Access to Anesthesia Care Act of 2025 is sponsored by Representatives…

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Editor's Note The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has deemed Smiths Medical’s recall of Proport Plastic Implantable Ports a Class 1, the most severe designation indicating serious risk of injury or death. The devices are designed for repeated venous access for injections, infusions, and/or blood samples. According to the…

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Editor's Note Endovascular devices used to block aneurysm blood flow are the subject of the latest recall to be designated Class 1—the most severe designation indicating serious risk of injury or death—by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). As detailed in the agency’s March 18 announcement, Medtronic Neurovascular is…

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Editor's Note Chief data officer (CDO) is a fast-growing C-suite role across the economy, with the notable exception of healthcare. The reasons why might be surprising: these roles have already been filled. Rather than growing, they are evolving. That’s the primary message of a March 4 report in Becker’s Hospital…

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Editor’s Note US News & World Report announced on March 18 its 2025 Best Ambulatory Surgery Centers (ASCs) ratings after evaluating 4,357 ASCs across four key specialty areas—Colonoscopy & Endoscopy, Ophthalmology, Orthopedics & Spine, and Urology. This marks the second annual edition of the publication’s effort to help consumers make…

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Editor's Note Hospitals are making measurable strides in patient safety and workforce resilience, but sustained focus is needed to maintain progress, according to a March 13 report in Chief Healthcare Executive. The article focuses on a new analysis from the American Hospital Association (AHA) and Press Ganey. Based on responses…

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