Editor's Note A quality improvement protocol at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical campus resulted in a 48.8% decrease in the number of pediatric urology patients returning to the emergency department (ED) unnecessarily within 30 days of surgery. According to a December 2 university report, the initiative has significantly reduced…
Editor's Note A cohort study conducted across 10 hospitals in the Mass General Brigham system found that stopping universal masking and SARS-CoV-2 testing significantly increased hospital-onset respiratory viral infections, while reinstating masking for healthcare workers reduced those rates. As detailed in a November 27 research letter in Jama Network Open,…
Editor's Note The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) finalized a new rule establishing the Increasing Organ Transplant Access Model, a 6-year, mandatory initiative to enhance access to kidney transplants, improve care quality, and reduce disparities. Managed by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), the program…
Editor's Note Non-operative management (NOM) with antibiotics for pediatric uncomplicated appendicitis is both less expensive and slightly more effective than urgent laparoscopic appendectomy over a one-year period, according to a study published November 19 in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons. The findings support the viability of NOM…
Editor's Note The American Medical Association (AMA) expressed “strong opposition” to a proposed regulation in Washington, DC, that would allow certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) to use the title “nurse anesthesiologist.” As detailed in a December 2 announcement, a letter to the DC Department of Health from AMA CEO James…
Editor's Note Researchers at the University of British Columbia (UBC) say their newly created coating could enhance the safety of medical devices by reducing the risks of thrombosis and excessive bleeding in patients. As reported November 30 in Fox News, researchers' findings, published in the journal Nature Materials, highlight how…
Editor's Note The US Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA’s) Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH) has initiated a pilot program to improve the speed of public notifications regarding high-risk medical device recalls. According to a November 21 announcement, this initiative aims to minimize the time between the FDA's awareness…
Editor's Note Cardiothoracic surgeons at Emory University Hospital have conducted the first US implantation of the BrioVAD System, a new ventricular assist device (VAD) from BrioHealth Solutions, Cardiovascular Business News reported November 25. According to the article, the BrioVAD System features a magnetically suspended, hemocompatible pump designed to minimize adverse…
Editor's Note A scoping review of 15 studies reveals that the COVID-19 pandemic significantly disrupted oncological abdominal surgery (OAS), leading to postponed or canceled procedures, adoption of alternative treatment plans, and increased psychological stress among surgical teams. Published November 5 in the American Journal of Surgery, the findings emphasize the…
Editor's Note A study analyzing data from the National Database of Nursing Quality Indicators (NDNQI) revealed that nursing-sensitive quality indicators (NSIs) worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic and remain elevated years after the onset of the pandemic, reflecting ongoing challenges in nursing practice. Published in the journal Nursing Research, the findings…