Editor's Note During the past few years, US hospitals have improved significantly in reducing healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), adhering to hand hygiene best practices, and preventing medical errors, according to the fall 2024 Hospital Safety Grades from The Leapfrog Group, a nonprofit focused on patient safety. Released November 15, the rankings…

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Editor's Note Kinematics-based AI similar to the technology behind ChatGPT enabled a multi-armed robot to learn new surgical techniques by watching video of human surgeons, according to a November 12 report in Healthday. “The robot is powered by the same AI that underpins ChatGPT, but instead of words and text,…

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Editor's Note   In a November 12 letter to Congress, the American Hospital Association (AHA) outlined its priorities for the lame-duck legislative session, focusing on measures to stabilize hospitals and health systems facing significant financial and operational pressures. If enacted, these recommendations would support the nation’s healthcare infrastructure amid rising…

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Editor's Note Johns Hopkins researchers have developed a fluorescent hydrogel that may improve outcomes in cataract surgery by aiding in the complete removal of residual gel, reducing complications such as increased eye pressure, pain, and potential vision loss, Medical Xpress reported October 31. Cataract surgery, a frequently performed procedure, involves…

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Editor's Note Black patients are less likely to receive multimodal analgesia and more likely to be given additional oral opioids compared to white patients, according to research presented at the Anesthesiology 2024 annual meeting. According to an October 20 report on the retrospective study from the American Society of Anesthesiologists,…

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Editor's Note Research published in the British Journal of Anaesthesia suggests that switching to a single syringe pump for both induction and maintenance of anesthesia could significantly cut propofol waste in operating rooms. EurekAlert! published the news October 29.  Propofol waste accounts for up to 45% of medication waste in…

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Editor's Note A recent OR Manager Conference presentation on enhancing OR efficiency and transparency—and, in turn, hospital profitability—is coming to the web. Tune in live this Thursday, November 14 at 1 pm EST, when leaders from LiveData will offer an encore presentation detailing how a medical center in the southeastern…

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Editor's Note Cybersecurity threats in healthcare are increasingly driven by third-party vendors, affecting millions of patients and hospital systems globally, experts John Riggi and Richard Staynings emphasized at the HIMSS Healthcare Cybersecurity Forum. Healthcare Finance News reported on the experts’ testimony November 5. According to the article, cyberattacks have surged…

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Editor's Note Joint guidance from key US medical associations advises that most patients on GLP-1 weight-loss medications, such as semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy) and tirzepatide (Mounjaro), may safely continue these drugs before surgery, HealthDay News reported October 31. Concerns had emerged about potential risks associated with these medications due to their…

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Editor's Note Research presented at the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) annual meeting has found that beta-blocker use is associated with an increased risk of postoperative stroke, particularly among Black and Hispanic patients undergoing noncardiac surgeries, Medpage Today reported October 20. According to the article, the retrospective study analyzed the…

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