Editor's Note Machine learning (ML) models designed to predict patient mortality are falling short when it comes to identifying severe injuries that could lead to death, according to a March 27 report in TechTarget. The article focuses on research published in Nature Communications Medicine found that ML mortality prediction models…

Read More

Editor's Note A nurse-coordinated prevention program significantly lowered the long-term risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in adults recovering from acute coronary syndrome (ACS), according to an April 2 article in Healio. The program, which focused on lifestyle and behavioral changes, led to a 30% reduction in adverse events,…

Read More

Editor's Note A recent study shows potentially significant promise for preoperative virtual reality (VR) simulation to improve surgical patient outcomes. Published March 1 in the American Journal of Critical Care, the research details how VR reduced ICU sedation and ventilator time for patients undergoing elective cardiothoracic surgery. Although the program…

Read More

Editor's Note Physicians are feeling more optimistic about their profession and are beginning to see tangible benefits from AI in reducing administrative tasks, according to the latest Physician Sentiment Survey (PSS) from athenahealth. Physicians’ day-to-day outlook has improved in recent years despite ongoing concerns about US healthcare, the organization reported…

Read More

Editor's Note Overreliance on overtime and agency nurse staffing can significantly increase the risk of pressure ulcers and, in the case of agency hours, perioperative hemorrhage or hematoma, according to research published April 2 in JAMA Network Open.   Using data from 70 US hospitals between 2019 and 2022, researchers…

Read More

Editor's Note Although cadaver-based education is far from perfect, medical schools should reconsider eliminating these programs for surgeons and other professionals, first-year medical student Nadir Al Saidi argues in a March 31 commentary in Stat. “The weight of an actual body beneath your inexperienced hands is as real a preparation…

Read More

Editor's Note Some patients with early-stage breast cancer who achieve a complete response to pre-surgical chemotherapy and radiation may safely avoid surgery, according to a March 27 announcement from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. The report details a Phase II trial, published in JAMA Oncology, finding that…

Read More

Editor's Note The Joint Commission announced significant updates taking effect immediately to the eligibility requirements for its cardiac and stroke certifications, developed in collaboration with the American Heart Association (AHA) and the American Stroke Association (ASA). According to the April 2 announcement,  key revisions involve the removal of percutaneous coronary…

Read More

Editor's Note Intermountain Health researchers have uncovered a practical solution for reducing the risk of opioid-induced respiratory depression (OIRD) in same-day surgery patients, showing that a basic monitoring device—specifically, a pulse oximeter—can save lives, News Channel Nebraska March 27 reports. The study, published in the Respiratory Care Journal, focused on…

Read More

Editor's Note According to a study presented at the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons 2025 Annual Meeting, same-day discharge for total joint arthroplasty (TJA) patients with a history of atrial fibrillation (AF) is both feasible and safe, Medscape March 31 reports. This finding challenges the common assumption that patients with…

Read More