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ACC CV Quality SmartBrief

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  • Leapfrog report notes patient safety improvements

    Hospitals have made improvements in preventing infections, injuries and medication errors, according to The Leapfrog Group's Spring 2026 Hospital Safety Grades. Since 2022, hospitals have cut central line-associated bloodstream infection rates in half, reduced catheter-associated urinary tract infections by 45% and reduced MRSA infection rates by 42% and C. diff infection rates by 30%. "When we look at hospitals that are doing well, it really starts with the C-suite," said Katie Stewart, Leapfrog's director of healthcare ratings. Chief Healthcare Executive (5/6) Learn More

  • Study links telemedicine to fewer antibiotic prescriptions

    A study that included more than 300,000 children and 694 primary care practices found that 34.6% of telemedicine visits for acute respiratory tract infections led to antibiotic prescriptions, compared with 46.8% of in-person visits. The study in JAMA Network Open found similar rates of guideline concordance for antibiotic management, as well as follow-up visits and antibiotic prescriptions, with both types of visits. MedPage Today (5/2) Learn More

  • Study: Newborns' resistance to E. coli antibiotics is up

    Research published in the journal Open Forum Infectious Diseases found rising antibiotic resistance in invasive Escherichia coli samples from newborns at Children’s Mercy Hospital Kansas City. The study, using blood cultures from 2006 to 2021, found 54% of E. coli isolates were nonsusceptible to ampicillin and 11% to gentamicin. Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (5/4) Learn More

  • Report: Health system governance trails operational growth

    A Governance Institute report underscores the need for hospital boards to evolve to keep pace with the growth and complexity of healthcare systems. About 1,500 boards currently oversee 80% of hospital admissions in the US and $900 billion in revenue. The report suggests a three-stage maturity model to guide boards toward more integrated and enterprise-level governance. HealthLeaders Media (5/5) Learn More

  • Advanced cardiogenic shock centers boost survival

    Hospitals with advanced mechanical circulatory support capabilities significantly improve survival rates for patients with acute myocardial infarction and cardiogenic shock, particularly those in stage E, according to a study presented at the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography & Interventions annual meeting. The study found that specialized centers, referred to as CERAMICS hospitals, achieved a 71% survival rate to hospital discharge by escalating MCS from devices such as Impella to extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. MedPage Today (4/30) Learn More

  • UChicago Medicine adopts smart hospital platform

    UChicago Medicine is implementing Artisight's smart hospital platform across its facilities to enhance patient care through virtual nursing, fall prevention and workflow automation. The platform integrates computer vision, voice recognition and real-time location services to improve clinical efficiency and data accuracy. UChicago Medicine Chief Information Officer Yemen Collier emphasizes the potential to reduce repetitive tasks and increase clinician-patient interaction, while Artisight CEO Andrew Gostine highlights the platform's ability to capture real-time data and improve healthcare outcomes. Healthcare Innovation (5/4) Learn More

  • Health disparities persist for people of color in Ky.

    People of color in Kentucky continue to experience significantly worse health outcomes compared with white residents, according to the Commonwealth Fund's 2026 State Health Disparities Report. The report highlights that Black infants in the state are nearly twice as likely to die as their white counterparts, with a mortality rate of 10.4 per 1,000 live births compared with 5.5 for white infants. The report also notes higher rates of preventable hospitalizations, smoking and uninsured rates among Black and Hispanic residents. Kentucky Health News (5/4) Learn More

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