Editor's Note Curious to learn how hurricane-impacted health organizations are navigating supply chain challenges? What about the latest trends in ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs), AI-driven scheduling software, or the workings of the hospital C-suite? Designed specifically for perioperative business leaders seeking to optimize efficiency and increase profitability, the 2025 OR…

Read More

Editor's Note When it comes to the 2024 presidential election, “Neither candidate addresses a return to the fundamental tenet of healthcare: the patient-physician relationship,” reads the closing line of an “election guide” from Richard Menger MD MPA. In the preceding paragraph, Menger also argues that both candidates also neglect issues…

Read More

Editor's Note Four consecutive months of reduced health system margins have resulted in significant layoffs and restructuring in top leadership, Becker’s Hospital Review reported September 30. According to the article, which cites Strata Decision Technology's August Healthcare Industry Financial Benchmarks report, average health system margins fell to 1.9% in August,…

Read More

Editor's Note A shuttered bariatric surgery center in Oklahoma last month is just one example of how the rise of Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonists are reshaping health systems’ investments, Axios reported August 13. Rather than “massive hospital towers with cardiology clinics, dialysis beds and joint replacement centers,” the focus is…

Read More

Editor's Note A bill in California that aims to increase oversight of private equity healthcare investments is receiving support from consumer advocates, labor unions, and the California Medical Association and opposition from hospitals worried about losing funding sources, the Los Angeles Times reported August 9. Sponsored by Attorney General Rob…

Read More

Editor's Note Acquisition by private equity firms leaves healthcare facilities less equipped to care for patients, according to a recent study published in JAMA. NBC reported the news July 31. Conducted by researchers from the University of California at San Francisco, Harvard Medical School, and Hunter College, this nationwide study…

Read More

Although I am not a healthcare professional, working for OR Manager offers a peek behind the curtain. What I have learned so far has left me feeling a bit conflicted. When I took this job back in December, I assumed the hospital ecosystem was driven entirely by the Hippocratic Oath.…

Read More

One privilege of living at this time in history is the availability of choice, especially for health and surgical needs. Those who make healthcare their business understand this as well. According to Tanna et al, ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) are spreading to rural areas, hospitals are creating hybrid outpatient surgery…

Read More

I still recall being handed roughly 10 boxes of suture anchors to practice with years ago at New York University (NYU) medical school. “Aren’t these needed here?” I asked incredulously. “Not at all,” came the answer, despite a hefty price tag of $1,000 per box. In fact, getting the suture…

Read More

Editor's Note UnitedHealth Group acquired dozens of outpatient facilities, particularly surgery centers, in 2023, often without public announcements, STAT March 11 reports. This builds on their network of about 90,000 physicians. Many new centers are in areas where UnitedHealth dominates the Medicare Advantage market. A major acquisition was National Cardiovascular…

Read More