Editor's Note: A successful test of a genetically modified pig liver attached to a brain-dead human body could have significant implications for liver failure patients, the Associated Press reported January 18. Conducted at the University of Pennsylvania, the tested method is similar to kidney dialysis in that the genetically modified…

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CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts— January 24, 2024—LiveData, a surgical capacity optimization solution company, today announced that it will demonstrate LiveData PeriOp PlannerTM, its innovative approach to optimizing OR utilization, at the annual OR Business Management Conference, being held February 6-8, 2024, in Phoenix, Arizona. LiveData will show how its technology helps hospitals grow…

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Editor's Note The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), in collaboration with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), announced a new initiative to ensure public access to emergency healthcare and assist hospitals in fulfilling obligations under the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA), a CMS January…

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Editor's Note: Equinoxe Shoulder System joint replacement devices manufactured by Exactech between 2004 and 2021 are at risk of premature wearing or failure due to defective packaging, according to a January 16 safety alert from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The bags used to package the devices were…

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Editor's Note:  Adherence to routine disinfection procedures may not be enough to prevent potentially harmful bacterial contamination of high-touch hospital surfaces, according to findings published January 10 in the American Journal of Infection Control. Manikins, bed rails, and workstations-on-wheels were the most contaminated surfaces. The study involved sampling and culturing…

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Editor's Note: Recent data show a direct correlation between nurse practitioner (NP) burnout and patients– particularly older adults with chronic diseases – utilizing the hospital and emergency department. Sage Journals published the findings on December 25. In 2018 and 2019, researchers collected survey data related to burnout from 1,244 primary…

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Editor's Note:  The World Health Organization (WHO)  has released recommendations around the ethics and guidance of artificial intelligence (AI)-based large language models (LLMs) in healthcare applications.  In a January 18 announcement, the organization recognized that AI LLMs, with their ability to analyze and interpret data, have a wide range of…

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Editor's Note:  General Electric (GE) EVair and EVair 03 (Jun-air) air compressors can release dangerous levels of formaldehyde when paired with Carescape R860 and Engström Carestation/Pro ventilators, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned January 9. Designed to supply the respective ventilators when wall air is not available, the…

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Editor's Note Postoperative telehealth for general surgery patients is both safe and effective, according to a study published on December 22 in The American Journal of Surgery. The study consisted of a retrospective review of 1,075 veterans undergoing qualifying procedures at a medical center from June 2019 to September 2021.…

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Editor's Note Published December 21, a year-long investigation by KFF Health News into medical device malfunctions found that the FDA allows the sale of most medical devices, including many implants, without requiring tests for safety or effectiveness. Instead, manufacturers need to show only that they have “substantial equivalence” to an…

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