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ACC CV Quality SmartBrief

The ACC CV Quality SmartBrief eNewsletter is a free, twice-weekly briefing for health care stakeholders interested in quality care. Learn more about the ACC CV Quality SmartBrief and subscribe.

  • SARS-CoV-2 has diminished impact but ongoing risks

    Six years after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the SARS-CoV-2 virus has become less of a global threat. Experts attribute the shift to widespread immunity from vaccinations and previous infections, as well as the emergence of the milder Omicron variant. While SARS-CoV-2 now ranks lower among causes of death, it still poses a risk to vulnerable groups such as the elderly and immunocompromised individuals. Vaccination rates have dropped, reflecting a shift in public perception and health policy, with a focus on protecting the most vulnerable. STAT (4/27) Learn More

  • Nighttime ICU admissions linked to higher sepsis mortality

    Nighttime ICU admissions for sepsis patients are associated with increased mortality, according to an analysis of data from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care IV database published in Scientific Reports. The study found that patients admitted at night had higher 30-, 90- and 180-day mortality rates compared with those admitted during the day, as well as a higher incidence of sepsis-associated encephalopathy and sepsis-induced acute lung injury. Nature (4/23) Learn More

  • Experts highlight the value of perioperative IPs

    Infection preventionists dedicated to perioperative care can reduce surgical site infections, improve staff engagement and provide a return on investment through standardized practices and real-time education, experts said at the 2026 Association of periOperative Registered Nurses conference. Another benefit is increased engagement from front-line workers, they noted. Infection Control Today (4/13) Learn More

  • Nurses voice concern over White House AI framework

    Nurses are expressing concerns about patient safety after the White House's National Policy Framework for Artificial Intelligence failed to mention the healthcare workforce or the nursing profession. Their concern underscores the risk of AI policy being shaped without input from front-line clinicians, who are often the first to notice issues with AI tools, said Mandy Richards, chief nursing executive at Intermountain Health. "When nurses aren't included in policy discussions, whether at the national, local, or even system level, we risk creating tools and systems that overlook the realities of front-line caregiving, which is where patient safety is most directly protected," Richards said. Becker's Clinical Leadership & Infection Control (4/27) Learn More

  • Researchers find room for improvement in ICU patient comms

    Only 35.6% of patients discharged from intensive care recalled being informed about post-intensive care syndrome, although 73.8% of intensive care providers were aware of PICS. Awareness was lowest among nurses, and researcher Mark Rolfsen said that training ICU nurses to discuss PICS with patients could improve communication. The study was published in the journal Chest. Healio (free registration) (4/24) Learn More

  • AI, routine head CTs could improve CVD detection

    A study in JACC suggests that combining routine head computed tomography with artificial intelligence could enhance the detection of cardiovascular disease. Researchers from Harvard Medical School and Stanford University validated an AI model using data from 98,175 CT images, showing that the combined model could identify high-risk patients more effectively than traditional methods. Cardiology Advisor (4/27) Learn More

  • High-quality health information is an SDOH, researchers say

    Health information is a core social driver of health, according to an article in Nature Medicine that explores the challenge of medical misinformation in the digital age. Quality health information that is scientifically sound, accessible and clear is essential for decision-making that can improve health, the authors wrote. The researchers called for strengthening healthcare professionals' education and communication skills and developing ways to help patients identify reliable sources. Medscape (4/27) Learn More

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