Editor's Note Physician attire, particularly white coats, directly affects patients' perceptions of professionalism, trust, and communication, according to an August 12 article in MedPage Today. Preferences vary dramatically based on clinical setting, medical specialty, and physician gender. The article focuses on a systematic review published in The BMJ analyzing patient…
Editor's Note Capability to achieve results on par with or better than humans using laparoscopic techniques demonstrates the extent to which autonomous surgical robots are rapidly evolving toward clinical readiness, according to John Hopkins University robotics researchers writing may 27 in IEEE Spectrum. The system detailed in the article, Johns…
Editor's Note Surgeons across top US health systems are swapping traditional monitors and even robotic systems for augmented reality (AR) headsets, which are streamlining procedures, enhancing precision, and slashing costs, Modern Healthcare May 27 reports. As detailed in the article, AR headsets are rapidly emerging as valuable surgical tools. From…
Editor's Note Hospitals and health systems are all-in on ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs), with ownership now the rule rather than the exception, according to the 6th Avanza Intelligence Hospital Leadership ASC Survey published in 2025. The report, produced in partnership with HealthLeaders Media, shows 82% of hospitals now own at…
Takeaways • US surgeons have no mandated retirement age. According to the Aging Surgeon Program, “a patient death or serious negative event are currently the only things that prompt action to prevent a surgeon from practicing.” • Research on aging-related decline is clear, but nuanced, showing rates and scope vary…
Why reflect on the past? Reflection anchors strategy and revitalizes purpose. Since the start of the year, the economy has been unstable, regulations have been in flux, and the livelihood of many is being put through grueling tests. But reflecting on the triumphs of past years shows that under the…
Editor’s Note Healthcare organizations are hemorrhaging millions to cybercrime and turning to medical staff as unlikely but indispensable defenders in the face of this growing threat. As detailed in a Cyber Security News April 29 article, healthcare remains the most expensive industry for data breaches, with the average cost reaching…
Editor's Note Ambulatory surgery center (ASC) leaders elevate safety by treating patient selection as a clinical gatekeeper, then prop that rigor with data-driven workflows, advanced monitoring, and targeted robotics to bring complex spine cases safely into the outpatient space. An interview with Glenn Snyders Jr, MD, medical director and head…
Editor's Note An April 16 article in JAMA Network outlines a three-part communications framework for improving the quality and clarity of perioperative conversations with patients, particularly when time is limited and stakes are high. The article focuses particularly on three core communications skills: attending to emotion, managing uncertainty, and supporting…
Editor's Note Gender bias in surgery goes far beyond barriers for individuals, according to a study published April 8 in The American Journal of Surgery. Ethnographic data reveals women surgeons face entrenched structural inequities that influence their daily work lives, limit their professional standing, and shape perceptions of surgical competence,…