Study: Therapy dogs reduce healthcare worker burnout
Editor's Note Simple, non-judgmental interactions with therapy dogs could offer a valuable tool in combatting the widespread burnout seen across the healthcare industry. Thatโs according to a September 16 EurekAlert!ย news release detailing a study highlighting the emotional support benefits of therapy dogs for not only patients, but also the healthcare…
Localized nurse shortages to persist amid nationwide surplus, analysis predicts
Editor's Note A new report by Mercer projects a national surplus of 30,000 nurses by 2028, but significant shortages will remain in some states and rural areas where healthcare access is already limited, according to a September 15 report in MedCity News.ย For example, New York is projected to face…
California updates guidance on CRNA scope of practice
Editor's Note Confusion about the scope of practice for Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) prompted The California Department of Public Health to update guidelines for acute care hospitals, MedPage Today reported September 18. Issued after violations at two Modesto hospitals resulted in hundreds of cancelled surgeries, a letter from the…
FDA designates Class 1 recall for tracheostomy tubes
Editor's Note The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has designated the recall of Smiths Medicalโs Bivona Neonatal/Pediatric and Adult Tracheostomy tubes as a Class 1, the most severe category indicating risk of serious injury or death. According to the agencyโs September 18 report, the recall is due to a…
Study: Preventing antibiotic-resistant infection surge could save millions
Editor's Note Research shows antibiotic-resistant infections could lead to 8.2 million deaths annually by 2050, representing a 75% increase from current rates, according to a September 17 article in HealthDay. Published in the Lancet, the new study highlights the growing threat of growing threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), predicting that…
Face transplant survival rates โencouraging,โ global study finds
Editor's Note Nearly 20 years of data on the first 50 face transplants in the world indicate that survival rates exceed those of several solid organ transplants, according to a global study published September 18 in Jama Surgery. Conducted between 2005 and 2021, the study involved 18 transplant centers, assessed…
Vertical integration reshaping US healthcare: Impact on cost, access
Editor's Note A growing trend toward vertical integration in US healthcare is leading to significant changes in how care is delivered and billed, according to a new study by Brown University researchers published on September 16. Vertical integration refers to the consolidation of physician-owned practices into larger health systems, a…
ChristianaCare, Atlas Healthcare form joint venture to expand ASC network
Editor's Note ChristianaCare, a health system in Delaware, is partnering with Atlas Healthcare Partners to develop a new network of ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) in Delaware and the mid-Atlantic region, Hospital Management August 14 reports. The partnership will be overseen by a joint board with representatives from both ChristianaCare and…
CMS calls for demonstrations of AI technology in healthcare
Editor's Note Aligning with a recent executive order promoting safe and effective use of artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is seeking input on what providers and others are doing with the technology. Issued September 9, the Request for Information (RFI) invites healthcare…
Study: Adjuvant nivolumab reduces risk of death, lung cancer recurrence
Editor's Note An analysis of two phase-III trials showed adjuvant administration of nivolumab (Opdivo) plus chemotherapy reduces the risk of recurrence or death in patients with resectable non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) by 40% compared to neoadjuvant nivolumab plus chemotherapy alone, Medpage Today reported September 9. "With the caveat that…