A global group of experts in medicine, public health, law, industrial hygiene, and other disciplines issued an open letter last Wednesday to top officials with the World Health Organization (WHO) that calls for the “universal use of respirators in health care.” The signatories expressed “deep concern — and with sincere hope…
A new study from Duke University School of Medicine suggests that preoperative stress checks can improve surgical outcomes for older adults. Duke claims the study is “one of the most in-depth looks at pre-surgery stress in the general geriatric surgical population.” The study, published in Anesthesiology, says that even modest stress can affect how older adults…
North American Partners in Anesthesia (NAPA), which describes itself as the country’s “leading single-specialty anesthesia management company,” will provide anesthesia services at 123-bed acute care facility Bon Secours Mary Immaculate Hospital of Newport News, Va., starting on Feb. 1, 2026. “NAPA brings tangible capabilities that advance quality and growth,” said Alan…
Florida health system BayCare has revealed a new rendering of its future Pagidipati Children’s Hospital at St. Joseph’s. The freestanding facility, scheduled to open in 2030, will replace its current St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital, which BayCare describes as Tampa Bay’s largest provider of pediatric health care. Its vision for the…
The Joint Commission's new Accreditation 360 standard has arrived. Accreditation and regulatory compliance consultant John R. Rosing, MHA, LFACHE, vice president and principal at Patton Healthcare Consulting, says perioperative leaders must understand what has changed and what remains the same, as well as focus on their risk areas, to best…
Last week, The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that it will award all 50 U.S. states funding under its Rural Health Transformation (RHT) program “to strengthen and modernize health care in rural communities across the country.” The initiative is intended to provide what the government estimates is…
Respiratory illnesses are currently prevalent in many areas of the country. Yesterday, one health system decided to take action to protect its patients and staff. Acknowledging that COVID-19, RSV and flu are on the rise in its area, Duke Health Hospitals and Clinics yesterday updated its visitor guidelines for all…
Tri-City Cardiology Ambulatory Surgical Center announced on Dec. 29 that it had surpassed 6,000 completed procedures, which it said underscores its commitment and ability to deliver “high-quality, patient-centered cardiovascular care in an outpatient setting.” The Mesa, Ariz.-based practice said Tri-City Cardiology ASC was designed to expand patient access to “highly personalized…
Researchers at Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center in Annapolis, Md., describe positive impacts on the hospital's acute-care operations and quality after transitioning elective orthopedic surgeries to an ambulatory setting. The retrospective single-center study, published on Cureus on Dec. 30, is particularly relevant as more health systems and hospitals continue to…
Many ASCs are reluctant to explore technological upgrades for various legitimate reasons -- limited financial resources, limited staffing resources, a belief in their current way of doing things. That widespread skepticism and reluctance can be even more pronounced with regard to implementing and using artificial intelligence (AI) technology in the…
