Immersed in texts, apps, QR codes, and streaming videos, we live in a digital world. And yet, healthcare has been slow to catch up. Most nurses and other staff still hand out packets of paper and relay information verbally, whether in person or over the phone. It does not have…

Read More

Editor's Note Financial incentives can shape surgeons’ decision-making, but their effectiveness depends on the structure of the payment model. This is the central message of a January 26 article in Forbes reporting on two studies: one linking a sharp increase in hernia cases to a simple Medicare coding change, and…

Read More

Editor's Note Bain Capital Private Equity put forward a proposal to acquire all remaining shares of Surgery Partners, an ambulatory surgery center (ASC) operator in which Bain Capital already holds a 39% stake, Modern Healthcare January 28 reports. According to a filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission, the…

Read More

Editor's Note Hospital credit ratings in 2024 reflected mixed trends, with downgrades continuing to outpace upgrades, though at a slower rate than in 2023, according to a January 22 report from Kaufman Hall. The organization cites 5 key takeaways: Downgrades narrowed but persisted. The number of downgrades dropped to 95…

Read More

Editor's Note Analysts say proposed tariffs on imported goods could increase costs for approximately 75% of medical devices marketed in the United States, 69% of which are manufactured solely abroad, according to a January 20 article in Medical Product Outsourcing. Valued at $197.8 billion in 2023, the US medical device…

Read More

Editor's Note An EHR-integrated closed-loop clinical decision support system (CDSS) significantly reduced unnecessary preoperative testing, improved patient safety, and significantly reduced costs across two hospitals in Madrid, Spain. As detailed in a study published January 3 in npj digital medicine, this system demonstrates the potential of automated guidelines to optimize…

Read More

Editor's Note Healthcare data inaccuracies occur at rates as high as 26.9% in hospitals, with related inefficiencies costing providers up to $20 million annually, HealthLeaders reported January 8. According to the article, these inaccuracies stem from factors such as data entry mistakes, outdated information, inconsistent data standards, and system integration…

Read More

Editor's Note Health insurance coverage of prosthetics remains inconsistent and often inadequate, KFF Health News reported January 6. As a result, many patients face coverage denials due to claims of lack of medical necessity or high costs despite significant advancements in prosthetic technology, such as microprocessor-controlled knees and myoelectric hands.…

Read More

Editor's Note Between 2018 and 2024, ransomware attacks on US healthcare organizations compromised nearly 89 million patient records and resulted in downtime costing an estimated total of $21.9 billion, according to a December 18 report from Comparitech. The report tallies 654 total ransomware incidents during this period targeting hospitals, clinics,…

Read More

Editor's Note Immigration and trade policies proposed by President-elect Donald Trump could exacerbate challenges with healthcare staff and medical supply chains, according to recent reporting from Modern Healthcare and The Hill. As detailed by Modern Healthcare, stricter immigration policies could impede efforts to recruit skilled international workers, exacerbating gaps in…

Read More