AI, more pay help healthcare executives combat worsening nurse shortage
Editor's Note Healthcare executives expect the US nurse shortage to worsen, according to the 2024 Healthcare Executive Reportย from Incredible Health, a career marketplace for healthcare workers. Projected to reach 1 million by 2030, the shortage is exacerbating stress on current staff and compromising care quality, according to the companyโs June…
Ascension announces full EHR restoration after cyberattack disruption
Editor's Note Ascension has restored electronic health records (EHRs) throughout all hospitals and clinics nationwide, according to a June 14 update from the St. Louis-based health system. "Clinical workflow in our hospitals and clinics will function similarly to the way it did prior to the ransomware attack," the statement reads,…
Real-time mass spectrometry identifies brain cancer mutations during surgery
Editor's Note A mass spectrometry platform that identifies key brain cancer mutations in real-time during surgery shows potential for improving outcomes in a procedure when time is of utmost importance, Technology Networks reported June 3. Developed by the Mayo Clinic, the platform specifically targets dehydrogenase (IDH) mutations on samples taken…
Updated ethylene oxide sterilizer standard covers latest technology
Editor's Noteย The Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI) has updated its standard on ethylene oxide (EO) sterilizers for healthcare facilities, according to a June 12 press release. The first update in two decades, the fourth edition ANSI/AAMI ST24:2024 covers labeling, safety, performance, and testing requirements for general-purpose…
Study: Robot surgery outcomes superior to laparoscopic metabolic, bariatric procedures
Editor's Note Two new studies show robotic surgery outperforming laparoscopic approaches to metabolic and bariatric procedures in terms of operating times, length of hospital stay, and complication rates, according to a June 11 report in Medical Xpress. Both studies were presented at the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery…
Study: Depression, lack of support outweighed pandemic-specific influences on nurses leaving jobs in 2020
Editor's Note Coworker and employer support strongly influence nurses' intentions to remain in their jobs, while symptoms of depression are associated with nurses planning to leave, according to a study conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic by researchers at NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing. Available to the public September 30…
FDA announces Class 1 recalls for patient return electrodes, intra-aortic balloon catheters, anesthesia systems
Editor's Note The US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has announced Class 1 recallsโthe most severe category, indicating risk of serious injury or deathโfor three products: MEGA SOFT Pediatric Patient Return Electrodes from Megadyne, Vaporizer Sevoflurane Maquet Filling from Getinge; and Arrow FiberOptix Intra-Aortic Balloon Catheter Kit and Arrow UltraFlex…
Study: Ergonomic guidelines needed for trainees assisting in minimally invasive procedures
Editor's Note A prospective cohort study among general surgery residents in Singapore highlighted the need for ergonomic improvements and education for surgical trainees during minimally invasive abdominal surgery.ย Published May 31 in Scientific Reports, the study was limited by a small sample size and variability in respondent characteristics and practices.…
Patient files stolen in Ascension cyberattack
Editor's Note Personal patient data could have been compromised in the May 8 cyberattack on Ascension, according to the latest update from the St. Louis-based healthcare system. Posted June 12, the update reveals that attackers accessed files from seven out of 25,000 file servers used for routine tasks, potentially containing…
US healthcare spending outpaces GDP, tracks toward $7.7 trillion by 2032
Editor's Note Growth in healthcare spending is outpacing nominal economic growth, Hospice News reported June 12. Citing a study from the Office of the Actuary (OACT) at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), the outlet reports that healthcare spendingโs share of GDP is projected to rise from 17.6%…