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  • Heart-healthy habits may lower risk of severe COVID-19

    Having a higher Life's Essential 8 score was associated with a lower likelihood of severe COVID-19 infection for people who did not have cardiovascular disease, researchers reported in the Journal of the American Heart Association. Heart-healthy habits most associated with a lower risk for severe COVID-19 were physical activity, body mass index, blood pressure and sleep. Healio (free registration) (5/27) Learn More

  • Contaminated endoscopes, BSIs not epidemiologically linked

    A seven-year study at a hospital in Singapore involving more than 316,000 endoscopic procedures found there was no epidemiological link between contaminated endoscopes and post-procedural bloodstream infections. The study, published in the American Journal of Infection Control, suggests that most postendoscopic BSIs are related to patient susceptibility and procedural invasiveness rather than exogenous transmission from endoscopes. Infection Control Today (5/25) Learn More

  • Medicare Advantage plans face new demands under CMS rule

    CMS' final rule for 2027 includes major changes for Medicare Advantage plans, including a 2.48% rate increase and a redesign of Star Ratings to focus more on clinical quality and patient outcomes. The rule also tightens oversight of flex cards and Special Supplemental Benefits for the Chronically Ill, requiring detailed member disclosures and robust operational oversight. Experts stress the need for cross-functional coordination within MA organizations to meet the new and more demanding expectations set by the CMS. Healthcare Innovation (5/22) Learn More

  • Workforce preparation for AI is lagging in healthcare

    Healthcare organizations are rapidly adopting AI across various functions, but workforce readiness is trailing, Kyndryl's People Readiness Report found. According to the report, although healthcare leaders are heavily investing in AI technology, they underestimate the organizational change needed for effective implementation. This disconnect leads to uneven AI adoption, which can cause alert fatigue and operational friction. "Organizations that prioritize structured upskilling, workflow integration and AI governance will be best positioned to use AI to improve the quality of care and enhance operational performance," writes Anupama Shashank of Kyndryl. Healthcare IT Today (5/24) Learn More

  • Hospitals designated as special pathogen treatment centers

    Thirteen hospitals have been federally designated as Regional Emerging Special Pathogen Treatment Centers, equipped to handle high-consequence pathogens such as Ebola. The designation, which originated during the West African Ebola outbreak of 2014, has been given to hospitals such as University of Nebraska Medical Center, Emory University Hospital, and NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue. The centers maintain biocontainment units and specialized staff to manage infectious diseases. Becker's Clinical Leadership & Infection Control (5/21) Learn More

  • FDA authorizes AI software for heart failure

    Cardiosense has received De Novo classification from the FDA for its PCWP Analysis Software, an AI-powered tool that estimates pulmonary capillary wedge pressure noninvasively using the CardioTag wearable sensor. This software aims to help clinicians manage heart failure by detecting fluid buildup earlier in the lungs and heart. Cardiosense plans to broaden the platform with more algorithms for heart failure management. Research on the technology was published in JACC: Heart Failure. Medical Economics (5/27) Learn More

  • BATMAN procedure promising in preventing LVOT obstruction

    Balloon-assisted translocation of the mitral anterior leaflet has emerged as a promising technique to prevent left ventricular outflow tract obstruction during transcatheter mitral valve replacement. A study in JACC: Cardiovascular Interventions showed a 98.8% technical success rate and a 95.1% primary efficacy rate for BATMAN, with a 7.3% rate of major cardiac structural complications, mainly in patients with severe mitral annular calcification. Cardiovascular Business (5/22) Learn More

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