Editor's Note Anyone who has attended the annual OR Business Management Conference understands the value of an intimate event focused exclusively on OR efficiency and profitability. However, even regular attendees are likely to find something new this at year’s conference, which is scheduled for February 10-12, 2025, at the Saddlebrook…

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Editor's Note Researchers at Karolinska Institute in Sweden have developed artificial intelligence (AI) models that outperform human experts in detecting ovarian cancer using ultrasound images. As reported January 7 in DotMed, the AI was trained on over 17,000 images from 3,652 patients across 20 hospitals in eight countries, achieving an…

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Editor's Note Thousands of RNs nationwide plan to rally in support of safer staff and patients today, January 16, amid widespread introduction of technologies driven by artificial intelligence (AI), according to National Nurses United (NNU). NNU reported on the plans January 14, noting that more than 100,000 members of the…

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Editor's Note Healthcare employment in the US rose by 46,000 from December to January, according to a January 10 report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). That is compared to an overall monthly gain of 256,000 in December. Hospital employment rose by 12,000, according to the data, which also…

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Editor's Note Patients fared worse in the wake of private equity acquisitions of US hospitals, according to research published January 9 in JAMA Network.  Over a decade-long analysis of 73 acquired hospitals and 293 matched controls, declines became more pronounced in the years following acquisition, researchers wrote. Key findings include:…

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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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Editor's Note United Surgical Partners International Inc. has agreed to pay $1.48 million to settle a proposed class action alleging its 401(k) plan charged excessive fees and included costly investment options, according to a motion filed in Texas federal court, Law360 January 6 reports. The settlement resolves a lawsuit brought…

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Editor's Note Immigration and trade policies proposed by President-elect Donald Trump could exacerbate challenges with healthcare staff and medical supply chains, according to recent reporting from Modern Healthcare and The Hill. As detailed by Modern Healthcare, stricter immigration policies could impede efforts to recruit skilled international workers, exacerbating gaps in…

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Takeaways • Visual management (VM) tools support Lean efforts, leading to improved quality and efficiency. • VM boards provide an overview of processes, facilitate problem solving, and promote staff-manager collaboration. • Other VM tools such as color coding and customized instrument trays can help reduce errors and save money. Lean…

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Perioperative leaders are entering a time of uncertainty after 2024 proved to be transformative for inpatient and outpatient surgical care. Last year saw important updates from The Joint Commission and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) that emphasized improvements alongside ongoing challenges in safety, workforce shortages, reimbursement, and…

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