Annual awards, new partnership advance paranesthesia nursing
Editor's Note Inspired by a leader in the postanesthesia care department (PACU)? Here’s a chance to provide well-deserved recognition from the entire perioperative community. If you’re a member of the American Board of Perianesthesia Nursing Certification, Inc. (ABPANC), we have something for you as well: exclusive discounts to attend OR…
UnitedHealth has ‘quietly’ bought several outpatient surgery centers
Editor's Note UnitedHealth Group acquired dozens of outpatient facilities, particularly surgery centers, in 2023, often without public announcements, STAT March 11 reports. This builds on their network of about 90,000 physicians. Many new centers are in areas where UnitedHealth dominates the Medicare Advantage market. A major acquisition was National Cardiovascular…
Changes in ASC ownership: A look at the influencing factors
Editor's Note As aging ambulatory surgery center (ASC) physician-owners retire, many ASCs are struggling with succession plans, Outpatient Surgery Magazine May 1 reports. Per the article, younger surgeons often lack the capital to establish freestanding ASCs, and with tight margins in the ASC market, a capital infusion is often needed.…
Healthcare industry groups criticize federal cybersecurity reporting rule
Editor's Note Healthcare industry groups are calling for the federal government to streamline and ease the recently proposed cybersecurity incident reporting rule by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), Fierce Healthcare reported July 8. According to the report, CISA's proposal imposes enhanced reporting requirements for critical infrastructure entities, including…
Healthcare employment up in June
Healthcare employment in the US rose by 49,000 from June to July, according to the latest report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, released on July 5. That is compared to an overall monthly gain of 206,000 in June. In June, healthcare employment also trended up in: ambulatory healthcare services…
US healthcare spending growth expected to outpace overall economic growth
Editor's Note Expected to grow at an average annual rate of 5.6%, US healthcare spending will outpace GDP growth—projected at 4.3%--and rise to $7.7 trillion by 2032, according to a June 28 report in ASC focus. The $7.7 trillion figure amounts to 19.7% of GDP. The report is sourced from…
Study: Secondary conditions go unaddressed in female heart surgery patients
Editor's Note Female patients undergoing heart surgery are less likely than male patients to have concomitant procedures—that is, having additional ailments addressed during cardiac procedures—despite guidelines recommending such treatments, according to two studies led by Michigan Medicine. News-Medical.Net reported the news June 28. The first study, involving over 5,000 patients…
Justice Department announces nationwide action on healthcare fraud enforcement
Editor's Note On June 27, The Justice Department announced the 2024 National Health Care Fraud Enforcement Action, leading to criminal charges against 193 defendants, including 76 medical professionals across 32 federal districts in the U.S. for their involvement in various health care fraud schemes. These schemes accounted for approximately $2.75…
New research shows health risks of smoke exposure in gastrointestinal endoscopy
Editor's Note Research presented at this year’s Digestive Disease Week in May highlights the potential health risks posed by smoke generated during tissue-cutting ablations in gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy, Gastroenterology & Endoscopy News May 18 reports. Unlike surgeons in ORs, who follow specific regulations to mitigate smoke exposure, GI endoscopy procedures…
New requirements for ASCs on life safety, patient rights effective August
Editor's Note Starting August 1, ambulatory surgical centers (ASCs) will need to comply with new and revised requirements for Life Safety Code® and patient rights, a June 26 news update from The Joint Commission reports. These updates align with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Conditions for Coverage.…