Study compares robotic, laparoscopic cholecystectomy cost drivers
Editor's Note A retrospective review of 14 hospitals over 7 years found that robotic cholecystectomy costs were, on average, 2.5 times higher than laparoscopic cholecystectomy ($1,447 vs. $669 per case). Findings were published on March 19 in the journal Surgery. Disposable instrument choices also impact costs. Despite the rising adoption…
Bipartisan bill would expand presidential trade authority over medical goods
Editor's Note The bipartisan Medical Supply Chain Resiliency Act would grant the president expanded authority to negotiate trade deals and modify tariffs on medical goods, according to a March 14 report from Fierce Healthcare. The bill, backed by pharmaceutical and healthcare industry groups, aims to strengthen the US medical supply…
Study: CMS sepsis care protocol shows no clear mortality benefit
Editor's Note A systematic review found no strong evidence that compliance with the CMS Severe Sepsis and Septic Shock Management Bundle (SEP-1) reduces mortality, raising questions about its inclusion in hospital performance measures, according to a February 19 report from the University of Minnesota’s Center for Infectious Disease Research and…
Rethinking life after 65: A three-pillar approach to retirement planning
Editor's Note With several major gatherings planned for this spring—including those from AORN, AONL, ASCA, and ASPAN—a bustling events season offers perioperative leaders valuable opportunities for reflection on our careers and futures. Speaking of futures, the 2024 OR Manager Salary/Career Survey revealed an intriguing shift: only 9% of perioperative nurses…
Capital funding crunch spurs creative hospital financing
Health systems are fundamentally capital intensive. They are regulated; depend on highly educated, high-cost employees; and operate under complex reimbursement structures. Investing in new technologies and infrastructure upgrades is imperative to keeping up with the latest medical advances. But what happens when capital funds are insufficient or no longer available?…
Study: Shifting imaging to outpatient centers could save billions
Editor's Note Moving radiology services from hospitals to outpatient centers could slash healthcare costs by billions annually while improving patient care, according to a March 3 Radiology Business News report on a study published in the American Journal of Roentgenology (AJR). The study found that shifting just 10% of hospital-based…
Report: Health system margins shrink as hospital revenue grows
Editor's Note Operating margins for health systems declined across the US in early 2025 even as hospitals reported steady revenue growth, according to a February 27 report from Strata Decision Technology. The median operating margin for U.S. health systems dropped to 1.0% in January, down from 2.1% in December, marking…
Cost-shifting concerns rise as GOP eyes Medicaid cuts
Editor's Note Large employers are warning hospitals they will not absorb higher costs if plans by Republicans and the Trump administration for deep Medicaid cuts proceed, a February 28 article in Modern Healthcare reports. The threat of reduced Medicaid funding has reignited concerns about hospitals shifting costs onto employers and…
Study: Wildfire smoke raises hospital borrowing, patient care costs
Editor's Note Wildfire smoke is driving up borrowing costs for hospitals and healthcare facilities, potentially leading to higher patient care costs, according to new research from the University of Nevada, Reno. As detailed in a February 18 article in Nevada Today, findings show municipal bond investors are factoring wildfire smoke…
Healthcare giants prioritize shareholder payouts over patient care
Editor’s Note Shareholder payouts by publicly traded healthcare companies have surged 315% since 2001, raising questions about financial priorities in the sector, according to a February 19 article in Healthcare Finance. A research letter published in JAMA Internal Medicine and co-authored by Yale University researchers found that major healthcare corporations…
Free Daily News
- Study compares robotic, laparoscopic cholecystectomy cost drivers
- Hospital closures rise in 2025 amid ongoing financial pressures
- AI-driven tech partnerships aim to enhance surgical planning, imaging
- Study: Stronger sense of mission reduces burnout, turnover risk among perioperative nurses
- AI agents sweep healthcare, promising speed and efficiency
- Novel liver transplant technique offers new hope for colorectal cancer patients
- Bipartisan bill would expand presidential trade authority over medical goods
- Legislation proposes granting CRNA practice authority to expand anesthesia access for veterans
- FDA announces Class 1 recall for implantable ports
- FDA designates Class 1 recall for embolization devices