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ACC CV Quality SmartBrief

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  • Research shows "uneven" decrease in resistant infections

    Research in JAMA Network Open found that while drug-resistant infections in US hospitals fell from 2012 to 2022, they remain significant, with six bacterial pathogens accounting for nearly 570,000 infections in 2022, down from 600,000 in 2017. Although several drug-resistant infections initially decreased, the COVID-19 pandemic caused a rise in resistant infections among patients in the hospital. Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (3/17) Learn More

  • Guidelines address intra-abdominal infections

    Updates from the 2024 Infectious Diseases Society of America's guidelines on diagnosing complicated intra-abdominal infections were presented at a NAPNAP conference. The guidelines recommend ultrasound over CT for imaging due to its safety and accessibility, particularly for children, as it avoids radiation and sedation. However, the recommendations are conditional with low certainty of evidence, highlighting the need for further research. Contemporary Pediatrics (3/18) Learn More

  • Factors linked to unhealthy aging in midlife

    A study in the Journal of General Internal Medicine found that factors such as low socioeconomic status, chronic conditions and inconsistent insurance coverage were linked to unhealthy aging trajectories in adults ages 51-64. Researchers found that unhealthy aging was associated with increased hospitalizations, higher out-of-pocket costs and higher mortality after age 65. Medscape (3/18) Learn More

  • Credentialing delays can be costly for clinicians

    Credentialing delays of 90 to 120 days are common and cause significant revenue losses for health care practices, according to data from Assured. Delays of 120 days can cost physical therapists up to $50,916, pharmacists up to $69,462 and physicians and surgeons up to $122,144. TechTarget (3/17) Learn More

  • Tips for spotting, combating medical misinformation

    Medical misinformation continues to be an issue, and infectious disease expert Laurel Bristow offers tips to help the public and professionals identify false statements. Bristow advises skepticism of extreme claims, warns against black-and-white thinking in science and suggests investigating potential conflicts of interest in information sources. CNN (3/17) Learn More

  • AI adoption grows in medicine amid calls for regulation

    Artificial intelligence is becoming increasingly prevalent in medicine, with 62% of physicians using it in 2024, up from 38% in 2023, according to an American Medical Association survey. The AMA emphasizes the need for a regulatory framework to ensure the safety and efficacy of AI tools. At Tampa General Hospital, AI is used for clinical documentation and patient care, while Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center integrates it into pathology workflows. Medscape (3/18) Learn More

  • How CMOs can address social determinants of health

    Social determinants of health such as food insecurity and transportation issues can affect 80% of health outcomes, according to researchers. Some health systems are screening patients for social needs and connecting them with community resources or providing in-house support. "You need to be able to understand and identify when a patient has health-related social needs because they are a barrier for that individual from fully engaging in their care plan," said Nebeyou Abebe, senior vice president of social determinants of health at Highmark. HealthLeaders Media (3/18) Learn More

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