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ACC CV Quality SmartBrief

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  • Study finds racial disparities in antibiotic use

    Children from minority backgrounds and low socioeconomic neighborhoods received more antibiotics when hospitalized for pneumonia compared with non-Hispanic white children, according to a study presented at Pediatric Hospital Medicine 2025. The study reviewed data from nearly 50,000 children and found that 81% received antibiotics, with Asian and non-Hispanic Black children more likely to receive them. Medscape (8/4) Learn More

  • Health system works to eliminate CAUTIs in PICU

    Children's Healthcare of Atlanta eliminated catheter-associated urinary tract infections in its pediatric intensive care unit, maintaining a zero-infection rate for over 500 days. Its "No Diaper Zone" strategy, which involves removing diapers from patients who have indwelling urinary catheters to prevent stool contamination, has been key. This approach, along with a switch to an advanced urine monitoring system, reduced the CAUTI rate from 3.13 per 1,000 catheter days in 2020 to zero by 2023. Becker's Clinical Leadership & Infection Control (8/6) Learn More

  • SARS-CoV-2 infection doesn't increase child RSV risk

    A study in the journal Pediatrics found that children younger than 5 who recently had a SARS-CoV-2 infection are not at increased risk for respiratory syncytial virus infection, challenging the theory that SARS-CoV-2 suppresses the immune system and increases susceptibility to RSV. The study, which analyzed information from 27 US health systems, found that pediatric patients who had influenza were more likely to contract RSV than those who had a SARS-CoV-2 infection. Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (8/6) Learn More

  • CMS finalizes hospital pay rates for 2026

    The CMS has finalized a 2.6% increase for inpatient service payments in 2026, as well as a $2 billion increase in payments for disproportionate share hospitals and a $192 million increase for new medical technologies. The CMS also finalized interoperability rules for electronic prior authorization and changes to quality reporting requirements. HealthLeaders Media (8/5) Learn More

  • Urban hospitals use dual classification for Medicare payment

    Hundreds of urban hospitals have used a 2016 policy change to classify themselves as both rural and urban for Medicare payment, allowing them to benefit from programs intended for rural providers while retaining urban benefits, according to a study in Health Affairs. The study found that 425 urban hospitals had dual status in 2023, with over 75% being nonprofits. Fierce Healthcare (8/4) Learn More

  • F-18 FDG-PET/CT helps find fracture-related infections

    F-18 FDG-PET/CT imaging can help diagnose refractory fracture-related infections in the lower limbs, according to a study in the Bone and Joint Journal that included 429 scans. Researchers said that F-18 FDG-PET/CT localized infection sites and provided valuable information for surgical planning. AuntMinnie (free registration) (8/4) Learn More

  • Health equity crucial in CMS' new health tech ecosystem

    The CMS has unveiled its vision for a Health Tech Ecosystem aimed at creating a patient-centered health care system through enhanced data interoperability. While the initiative has garnered support from 60 major industry players, JP Pollak of the Commons Project emphasizes the need for a focus on health equity to prevent widening the digital divide. The initiative must ensure that digital health tools are accessible and understandable for all, particularly underserved populations, by enhancing digital health literacy and ensuring data privacy. "This is a CMS initiative, which is really important to remember because that means that this has to work for all people, especially for people who are Medicaid recipients, who are often left behind in these kinds of situations," Pollak said in an interview. TechTarget (8/5) Learn More

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