Colorado-focused report shows wasteful spending, over $130M spent on low-value care
Editor's Note A new report by the Denver-based nonprofit Center for Improving Value in Health Care found that millions are being spent on tests and treatments that have limited value for patient health and well-being, KFF Health News November 13 reports. According to estimates, from 10% to 30% of the…
Millions misclassified due to improper blood pressure measurements
Editor's Note Several million patients may be misclassified as having hypertension because they are not sitting according to recommended guidelines when measurements are taken, according to new findings in The Lancet published September 14. The American Heart Association and American College of Cardiology advise that when health care professionals take…
Link between CT scans and blood cancer risk in young patients
Editor's Note A multinational study has uncovered a clear association between young people’s exposure to radiation via CT scans and increased risk of blood cancer. The findings were published in the journal Nature Medicine on November 9. The study looked at data from radiology records of 276 hospitals in nine…
New calculator determines likelihood of developing cardiovascular disease
Editor's Note For the first time, researchers have designed a calculator that estimates a person’s risk for developing cardiovascular disease (CVD) over the next 30 years. The news was announced in a statement from the American Heart Association in the journal Circulation on November 10. 1 in 3 U.S. adults…
Study finds most nurses felt undervalued during pandemic
Editor's Note A study of nurses in the UK found that the majority of those surveyed felt undervalued and under-recognized, perceiving that they did not have a voice in higher-level decision-making, during the pandemic. The findings were published in the Journal of Advanced Nursing on October 30. Forty participants were…
Burnout on the rise among anesthesiologists since pandemic
Editor's Note A November 2022 survey of American Society of Anesthesiologists members found that, post-pandemic, anesthesiologists are experiencing unprecedented levels of workplace stress and staffing shortages. The findings were published in the November 2023 issue of the journal Anesthesiology. The authors surveyed the US attending members of the American Society…
Comfort with SDOH data exchange depends on quality of care, treatment
Editor's Note Most patients in the US (60%) are comfortable with healthcare organizations sharing their social determinants of health (SDOH) information for treatment purposes, EHR Intelligence October 26 reports. However, the article notes, four in 10 Americans still report hesitation around this data exchange. According to the Health Information National…
Maximizing Surgical Excellence: Strategies for Attracting Top Surgeons
A 2021 report by the Association of American Medical Colleges projects shortages of 15,800 to 30,200 in all surgical specialties by 2034. With competition for top talent more intense, medical institutions are confronted with providing comprehensive care to their communities. However, finding the best surgical talent is not easy. It…
New surgical implant allows Parkinson’s patient to walk again
Editor's Note A patient with Parkinson’s disease was able to walk normally again thanks to a surgical implant of an experimental spinal cord neuroprosthesis. The findings were published in the journal Nature on November 6 under the article title, "A spinal cord neuroprosthesis for locomotor deficits due to Parkinson’s disease." …
Online breast cancer surgery information too difficult to understand
Editor's Note Online breast cancer surgery information is often difficult to understand and may be impeding people’s ability to make informed decisions about their care, US News October 25 reports. Researchers reviewed patient education materials describing breast-conserving surgery, mastectomy, and lymph node surgery from US National Cancer Institute related websites…