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  • Readmission penalties linked to MA penetration

    Hospitals serving the largest proportion of patients covered by Medicare Advantage compared with regular Medicare were assessed an average of $30,736 more in penalties under the Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program than those serving lower proportions of MA patients, according to a study in JAMA Network Open. Hospitals with the lowest proportion of MA patients paid $26,915 less per year. Researchers suggested that MA penetration may need to be integrated into risk adjustment calculations, and peer groups may need to be redefined based on MA penetration. TechTarget (1/28) Learn More

  • Research analyzes bacterial contamination of long sleeves

    An analysis of 280 samples from various hospital settings found that 81% of health care workers' long sleeves were contaminated with bacteria, with 21% harboring potential pathogens such as alpha-hemolytic streptococci. Fleece sleeves had the most bacteria, with 41% containing potential pathogens, compared with 32.8% of non-fleece synthetic sleeves and 24.1% of cotton sleeves. The data, published in the journal Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology, showed 69.6% of long sleeves from clinicians in non-intensive care units contained bacterial growth, compared with 30.4% from ICU settings. Healio (free registration) (1/30) Learn More

  • New model enhances prediction of antimicrobial resistance

    A new multitask XGBoost model using electronic health record data has shown promising results in predicting antimicrobial resistance in Escherichia coli and Klebsiella species, outperforming traditional hospital antibiograms. The model demonstrated excellent accuracy, particularly for carbapenem resistance in Klebsiella and fluoroquinolone resistance in E. coli. The study was published online in Clinical Infectious Diseases. Medscape (2/2) Learn More

  • Study links vitamin D deficiency to respiratory infections

    Vitamin D deficiency may raise the risk of hospitalization for respiratory infections by as much as 33%, according to a study based on data from over 36,000 individuals in the UK Biobank. The study found that every 10 nmol/L increase in vitamin D levels reduced hospitalization rates by 4%. "This study shows an association, not cause and effect. That said, vitamin D is known to play a role in immune regulation, and low levels may impair the body's ability to fight infections, or lead to an exaggerated inflammatory response in the lungs," said pulmonologist Dr. Fady Youssef. Medical News Today (1/28) Learn More

  • Security a growing concern amid health workforce crisis

    Health systems and hospitals are facing workforce shortages, increasing violence against personnel, and growing financial pressures, making security a critical concern. Traditional security measures are becoming less effective, prompting a shift toward proactive, technology-driven models, writes Ken Poole, chief revenue officer at Security 101. MedCity News (1/28) Learn More

  • TMVR system gets CE mark for mitral valve regurgitation

    Medical technology firm HighLife has received CE mark approval for its Transcatheter Mitral Valve Replacement System, designed for certain patients with mitral valve regurgitation who are not suitable for TEER or valve surgery. The system features a valve-in-ring design to accommodate various mitral annulus sizes, aiming to minimize complications. Data published in JACC: Cardiovascular Interventions showed a 90% technical success rate. Cardiovascular Business (1/28) Learn More

  • ChatGPT Health may reshape patient-physician interaction

    OpenAI's ChatGPT Health is a chatbot designed to assist patients in managing their health by interpreting medical scans, developing wellness plans and integrating data from wearable health trackers. Physicians have noted that patients using ChatGPT Health may be better informed about their conditions, though the platform sometimes provides inaccurate information. ChatGPT Health offers enhanced privacy protections, but it is not subject to HIPAA regulations, and physicians should be cautious about data privacy when using any AI tool. MedPage Today (free registration) (1/30) Learn More

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