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  • Severe pediatric head, neck infections rose post-pandemic

    Severe pediatric infections of the head and neck increased sevenfold in a region of Italy after the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a study. The research found 56 cases of head and neck infections among 4,834 pediatric hospitalizations from 2022 to 2024, compared with eight cases from 2017 to 2019. Researchers attributed the increase to an "immunity gap" created by pandemic restrictions and increased antimicrobial resistance from inappropriate antibiotic use during the pandemic. Medscape (1/15) Learn More

  • RSV vaccinations lead to fewer infant hospitalizations in Utah

    The impact of RSV vaccinations in Utah has been significant, with a notable reduction in infant hospitalizations. Intermountain Health reports twice as many pregnant women receiving the vaccine, contributing to Utah leading the nation in the number of protected infants. This effort has alleviated stress on health care systems and improved outcomes during the RSV season. KSL-TV (Salt Lake City) (1/15) Learn More

  • Study links HFNC for bronchiolitis to asthma diagnoses

    A study published in the journal Pediatrics Open Science associated the use of high-flow nasal cannula therapy among children hospitalized for bronchiolitis with a higher rate of later asthma diagnoses. This cohort also had a shorter time to an asthma diagnosis than those who did not receive the therapy. Contemporary Pediatrics (1/15) Learn More

  • HSAs, FSAs can cover medically prescribed meal delivery

    Medically prescribed meals are now eligible for payment through health savings accounts and flexible spending accounts, the result of a partnership between meal delivery service Trifecta and food-tech platform Prado. The initiative aims to integrate the "food as medicine" concept into chronic disease management, potentially reducing health care costs significantly. A Tufts University study suggests that medically tailored meals could save $23 billion in health care costs and prevent 2.6 million hospitalizations annually. Employee Benefit News (free registration) (1/15) Learn More

  • Nonprofit health system integrates ambient AI

    LCMC Health, a nonprofit health system in Louisiana with six hospitals, is integrating ambient AI into its EHR platform in an effort to retain physicians. The technology has replaced virtual and in-person scribes, and Chief Medical Information Officer Dr. Damon Dietrich says LCMC will begin monitoring in a month or two to ensure the tool is being used. HealthLeaders Media (1/16) Learn More

  • AI scribes improve productivity, may raise health care costs

    Ambient AI scribes, which draft clinical notes from patient-clinician conversations, are shown to boost physician productivity, according to a University of California San Francisco study published in JAMA Network Open. Physicians using AI scribes saw increased RVUs and patient encounters, translating to higher Medicare revenue. Despite these gains, a JAMA Health Forum policy analysis cautions that widespread adoption could raise health care costs, as AI scribes might encourage higher-intensity billing. Experts emphasize the importance of considering both financial and non-financial returns, such as reduced burnout and improved patient care. Medscape (1/15) Learn More

  • Pharmacist-led care key to addressing health disparities

    Health disparities, often affecting members of racial minority groups and low-income individuals, can be mitigated through initiatives led by pharmacists, writes Kathleen Kenny. Their accessibility allows them to help manage chronic conditions, provide preventive services and address social determinants of health. However, barriers such as reimbursement issues, legal limitations and lack of electronic medical record access may hinder their potential role. Pharmacy Times (1/19) Learn More

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