Tag: healthcare disparity

New studies, surgical feats advance organ transplant medicine

Editor's Note Advances in organ transplant research and technology have been in the spotlight for medical media outlets for much of April, which also happens to be National Donate Life Month (a time dedicated to raising awareness about organ, eye, and tissue donation). For example, CBS News published an investigation…

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By: Matt Danford
April 18, 2025
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Study: US maternal mortality rises 28% in 5 years, inequities persist

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Editor's Note Pregnancy-related deaths in the US rose sharply from 2018 to 2022, with rates 3.8 times higher among American Indian and Alaska Native women and 2.8 times higher among non-Hispanic Black women than among White women, according to a new study published April 9 in JAMA Network Open. Researchers…

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By: Matt Danford
April 10, 2025
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Study: Pulse oximeters may misestimate oxygen saturation in darker skin tones

Editor's Note Pulse oximeters may overestimate blood oxygen levels in critically ill patients with darker skin tones, according to a March 30 article in HCP Live. The article focuses on the EquiOx study, conducted at the Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital between 2022 and 2024. Presented at the American College…

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By: Matt Danford
April 1, 2025
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Study: Implicit bias linked to low-value vascular procedures, worse outcomes for Black patients

Editor's Note Reducing the negative influence of implicit bias requires system-level interventions to ensure procedures align with best practices for all patients, according to results of new research on outcomes for vascular surgery patients. Published February 26 in JAMA Surgery, the study showed that implicit racial bias among vascular specialists…

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By: Matt Danford
March 11, 2025
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Texas abortion ban linked to spike in pregnancy complications, maternal death

Editor’s Note Pregnancy complications—including life-threatening sepsis—surged in Texas after the state banned abortion in 2021, according to a ProPublica analysis of seven years’ worth of state hospital data. In a February 20 report, the outlet details how sepsis rates for women hospitalized after second-trimester pregnancy loss rose by more than…

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By: Matt Danford
February 20, 2025
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Rural hospital closures remain a growing concern despite slight financial improvement

Editor's Note While fewer rural hospitals are operating at a loss than last year, more are now at risk of closure, according to a new report from Chartis. Fierce Healthcare reported the news February 13. As detailed in the article, the analysis found that 46% of rural hospitals are operating…

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By: Matt Danford
February 19, 2025
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CABG, TAVR drive hospital revenue despite cost variations

Editor's Note Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery and transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) generate the highest overall financial returns for US hospitals, despite not being the most profitable per procedure, according to a February 13 report in Cardiovascular Business. The article covers an analysis of Medicare data, published in…

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By: Matt Danford
February 14, 2025
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Rural hospital closures drive up surgical travel times and costs

Editor's Note Ongoing hospital closures are driving up travel times and out-of-pocket costs for rural Americans who need surgery, according to a February 12 report in HealthDay. Citing two recent studies published in Annals of Surgery and JAMA, respectively, the article details how rural hospital closures have forced more patients…

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By: Matt Danford
February 14, 2025
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Healthgrades names best hospitals for patient outcomes

Editor's Note Healthgrades has announced its 2025 America's Best Hospitals Awards, recognizing the top 50, 100, and 250 hospitals in the U.S. for overall clinical performance. According to a January 28 announcement, the rankings are based on an analysis of approximately 4,500 hospitals, evaluating outcomes for more than 30 common…

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By: Matt Danford
February 6, 2025
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Legislation proposes to halt Medicare physician payment cuts

Editor's Note A January 31 statement from the American Medical Association (AMA) announces the organization’s support for bipartisan legislation aiming to reverse steep Medicare reimbursement reductions threatening physician practices and patient care access. Introduced by a coalition of 10 House members, the "Medicare Patient Access and Practice Stabilization Act" would…

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By: Matt Danford
February 4, 2025
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