Editor's Note The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued new draft guidance January 6 providing recommendations improving the use of pulse oximeters and supporting the safety of AI-enabled medical devices, among other topics. Released January 6, draft guidance supporting the safety and effectiveness of AI-enabled devices would, if…

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Editor's Note UC San Diego Health plans to pilot artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled camera systems to enhance patient safety, addressing risks like falls and bedsores, but leaders are also acknowledging challenges related to patient consent, compliance, and privacy. The San Diego Union-Tribune reported the news January 5. According to the article,…

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Perioperative leaders are entering a time of uncertainty after 2024 proved to be transformative for inpatient and outpatient surgical care. Last year saw important updates from The Joint Commission and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) that emphasized improvements alongside ongoing challenges in safety, workforce shortages, reimbursement, and…

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Data is collected everywhere, from what we click online to whether we run a red light to how many steps we take each day. There is power in data. When leveraged effectively, data reveal patterns, insights, behaviors, and other potentially actionable intelligence. It stands to reason that data would be…

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Editor's Note With 2024 concluded, orthopedic surgeons and surgical leaders are poised to leverage new technologies while addressing challenges in autonomy and value-based care in 2025, Healio December 17 reports. Ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) have proven critical in providing cost-effective, patient-centered care, the author noted, highlighting that physician-led ASCs showcase…

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Editor's Note Robotic-assisted surgical procedures are no longer futuristic—they are becoming a mainstay in modern ORs. While Intuitive Surgical’s da Vinci system has led the market since 2001, competitors Medtronic and Zimmer Biomet are building innovative portfolios to challenge its dominance, MarketBeat December 12 reports. Medtronic’s Hugo Robotic Assisted Surgery…

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Editor's Note In a move that could hinder provider-led joint ventures and increase regulatory uncertainty, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Justice Department have withdrawn antitrust guidance issued in 2000. Modern Healthcare reported the news on December 16. Passed in a 3-2 vote, the decision eliminates previously relied-upon safe…

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Editor's Note Leading medical journals vary significantly in guidance addressing the use artificial intelligence (AI) in medical research, according to an analysis published December 3 in JAMA Network Open.   The study categorized journals’ attitudes toward AI-assisted peer review into three groups: prohibition, limited use with conditions, and lack of explicit…

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Editor's Note Artificial intelligence (AI) enabled technologies present the greatest technology risk to healthcare organizations in 2025, according to the latest list from ECRI, a nonprofit organization dedicated to safety in the industry. As detailed in the organization’s December 4 announcement, the annual report highlights critical risks that healthcare organizations…

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Amid rising demand for surgical procedures, improving perioperative operations is a pressing priority for any hospital. For a system serving one of the fastest-growing counties in the US, it becomes an operational imperative. This is the case for WakeMed Health & Hospitals (WakeMed). With ORs spread across multiple facilities in…

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