Reduced costs, faster recovery, and other advantages can make outpatient surgical procedures more convenient for providers and patients alike. Ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) are incredibly safe, but a lot of work goes into infection control. Cross-trained staff often wear many hats, and limited budgets may not leave room for dedicated…

Read More

Starting a new job can be stressful for anyone, but nursing comes with a particular set of pressures. A 2024 survey of 6,000 nurses from the American Nurses Association (ANA), in partnership with McKinsey and Company, found that an astonishing 45% of early-tenure nurses reported they were somewhat likely to…

Read More

It is often said that small actions lead to big results. This so happens to be the case with hand hygiene compliance (HHC) in healthcare. Imagine a simple act, like washing hands, cutting infection rates by half—hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) and surgical site infections being reduced simply by improving handwashing behaviors.…

Read More

Editor's Note Universitätsmedizin Berlin reduced anesthesia-related carbon emissions by more than 80% since 2018 by eliminating high-impact anesthetic gases, implementing education initiatives, and revising clinical guidelines, according to a February 27 report in Medical Xpress. The hospital’s efforts targeted desflurane, an anesthetic gas with an extreme climate impact—nearly 8,000 times…

Read More

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…

Read More

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…

Read More

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…

Read More

Editor's Note Prolonged exposure to general anesthesia during surgery contributes to long-term cognitive decline, affecting executive functioning, selective attention, mental speed, and information processing, according to a February 18 study published in the European Journal of Anaesthesiology. This prospective longitudinal cohort study followed 1,823 adults aged 25–84 in the Netherlands…

Read More

Editor's Note Insufficient awareness of drug interactions with hormonal contraceptives (HCs) among anesthesia providers could lead to unintended pregnancies and preventable health consequences, according to survey published in Anesthesia & Analgesia. Physician’s Weekly covered the news February 27. The article specifically cites sugammedex and aprepitant, both of which are widely…

Read More

Editor's Note Survey results reveal healthcare finance leaders expect limited financial gains in 2025 and are shifting their focus to operational improvements and cost management rather than margin growth. DotMed reported the news February 24. The article is based on a new report on a survey of over 100 healthcare…

Read More