Editor's Note Nurse staffing rates in hospitals serving a high percentage of Black patients are worse than in hospitals serving fewer Black patients, a disparity that has significant implications for patient outcomes, according to a study from the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing. Published in the journal Nursing Research…

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Editor's Note New and revised workplace violence prevention requirements take effect for The Joint Commission-accredited, office-based surgery practices July 1, The Joint Commission announced.  According to the January 16 announcement, which also announced new and revised standards for accredited assisted living communities and nursing care centers, the updates aim to…

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Editor's Note For the first time in over a decade, the OR Business Management Conference will feature a dedicated track tailored exclusively to ambulatory surgery center (ASC) leaders. This highly anticipated event, scheduled for February 10-12, 2025, at the Saddlebrook Resort in Tampa, Florida, is designed to address the unique…

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Editor's Note The Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC) has renewed its Medicare Deemed Status accreditation from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), a December 16 press release from AAAHC reports. This renewal reflects AAAHC’s adherence to rigorous federal standards and its commitment to continuous improvement since…

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Editor's Note This industry report from HST Pathways provides an in-depth analysis of key trends and operational benchmarks for ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) in 2024, offering actionable insights for nurse leaders. Based on data from 590 ASCs and nearly 3 million patient visits, the report highlights both achievements and persistent…

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Editor's Note The US hospital industry continues to face significant financial and structural challenges despite signs of stabilization in 2024, according to a January 9 report from Kaufman Hall. Despite improved operating margins and stable credit outlooks from major rating agencies, a surge in transactions involving financially distressed organizations and…

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Editor's Note The 2023-2024 State of Well-Being Report shows a modest improvement in healthcare worker burnout, with 50% reporting feeling burned out in 2023, down from 54% in 2022. HealthLeaders Media reported on the results January 2. According to the article, The Mayo Clinic’s Well-Being Index compiled 79,022 assessments to…

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Editor's Note A bipartisan Senate Budget Committee report accuses private equity firms of prioritizing profits over patients, compromising care in underserved communities, CBS News reported January 7. The investigation scrutinized the operations of Leonard Green & Partners and Apollo Global Management, alleging widespread financial mismanagement and underinvestment in hospitals they…

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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 A study published in JAMA Surgery revealed that hospitals owned by private equity firms had significantly worse outcomes for esophagectomy patients compared to non-acquired hospitals. As detailed in a January 2 report on the findings in MedPage Today, the analysis of over 9,000 cases highlights disparities in 30-day…

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