News

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Study: No outbreak despite rise in mucormycosis in ICU

A four-year review at UF Health Shands Hospital in Florida found a rise in Mucorales infections in a surgical ICU, primarily among patients awaiting liver transplants, but no temporal outbreak. The study identified 17 hospital-acquired cases of invasive mucormycosis, mostly mucocutaneous, with a 59% in-hospital mortality rate. Researchers said genomic sequencing of isolates could be helpful in any future outbreak investigations. Infectious Disease Special Edition (free registration) (11/17) Learn More

Integrated care tied to better pediatric outcomes

Integrated pediatric care was associated with lower emergency department use and more preventive care visits, according to research in the journal Pediatrics. The study of New York City Health + Hospitals' 3-2-1 Integrated Model for Parents and Children Together found that patients at IMPACT sites experienced a 12% reduction in emergency department visits and an increase in well-child visits compared with those at non-IMPACT sites. Medscape (11/24) Learn More

Data: Nirsevimab may help reduce ICU admissions for RSV

A study in the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report that included 27 hospitals in 24 states found that nirsevimab was 80% effective in preventing ICU admissions and 83% effective at preventing acute respiratory failure among infants with respiratory syncytial virus. "This investigation demonstrated effectiveness of nirsevimab against severe RSV-related outcomes in a population of infants who received it up to six months before onset of respiratory symptoms," researchers wrote. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (11/20) Learn More

Second US avian flu fatality in 2025 reported

A Washington state resident has died from a rare strain of avian flu that has never before been reported in humans, marking the second US avian flu fatality this year. The individual, an older adult with underlying health conditions, was hospitalized in early November after contracting the virus. The Washington Post (11/21) Learn More

How VBC can align with health systems' revenue goals

Hospital systems are challenged to balance value-based care with the need for fee-for-service revenue from inpatient admissions. Value-based care focuses on preventive and coordinated care, which can reduce hospitalizations and potentially revenue, but VBC also offers opportunities for hospitals to improve efficiency and patient outcomes, writes Dr. Samyukta Mullangi of Thyme Care and Tennessee Oncology. MedCity News (11/23) Learn More

CMS finalizes 2026 outpatient rule with 2.6% rate hike

The CMS has finalized the 2026 Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System and Ambulatory Surgical Center Payment System rule, increasing outpatient payment rates by 2.6% for hospitals meeting quality reporting requirements. The rule also phases out the inpatient-only list, expands procedures for ambulatory surgical centers and mandates hospitals to post actual prices in standardized formats, with civil penalties for noncompliance. Becker's Hospital Review (11/22) Learn More

UnityPoint Health, Mayo Clinic partner to improve care

UnityPoint Health announced a collaboration with the Mayo Clinic's Platform Insights system, aiming to enhance patient care across its network, which spans 400 clinics and 18 hospitals in Iowa, Illinois and Wisconsin. This partnership will provide UnityPoint Health physicians with access to Mayo Clinic's extensive knowledge and clinical pathways, integrating AI as a predictive tool while ensuring clinicians retain decision-making authority. The initiative is already in effect, aiming to improve health care delivery through advanced analytics and expert consultation. KCAU-TV (Sioux City, Iowa) (11/20) Learn More

Cardiovascular Quality and Research News

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