Editor's Note Health system leaders expect to face mounting physician challenges, shifting reimbursement models, and new growth opportunities throughout this year, according to VMG Health’s Health System Leader Expectations survey. Based on responses from 73 health system leaders, the report highlights the sector’s key trends and priorities for 2025. Key…

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Editor’s Note Despite being the largest healthcare workforce, nurses are cited in just 4% of health news stories, a statistic unchanged since 1997, according to researchers writing in the January issue of the Journal of Nursing Administration. However, a new initiative aims to change the equation. Titled Nurses’ Voices in…

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Editor's Note Research shows combining music with preoperative education not only reduces anxiety, but also enhances recovery outcomes in patients undergoing open cardiac surgery. Published January 21 in the Journal of Perianesthesia Nursing, the randomized controlled study involved 322 patients, evenly randomized into an experimental group (music and preoperative education)…

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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…

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Editor's Note Escalating administrative hurdles from insurers are heightening tensions between healthcare payers and providers who criticize the measures for threatening patient care, Modern Healthcare reported January 22. According to the article, policies attracting criticism include stringent prior authorization rules, claims denials, and new fees for appeals. For their part,…

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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…

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Editor's Note New infection control recommendations from the American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine (ASRA Pain Medicine) are purportedly the first comprehensive guidelines tailored specifically for regional anesthesia and interventional pain management procedures, such as cortisone injections and drug-delivery implants.   As detailed in the organization’s January 21…

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Editor's Note Although medical device shortages threaten all patients, a recent FDA announcement highlights particular risks for pediatric populations who require size-appropriate equipment. “From ventilators and neonatal breathing tubes to hemodialysis catheters, the scarcity of these critical devices poses a growing threat to patient care – especially for our youngest…

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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 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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