News

The ACC CV Quality SmartBrief eNewsletter is a free, twice-weekly briefing for health care stakeholders interested in quality care. Learn more about the ACC CV Quality SmartBrief and subscribe.

Tackling water quality issues in sterile processing

A case study presented at the HSPA 2026 conference highlights how the Northern Colorado VA Outpatient Clinic and Cheyenne VA Medical Center have addressed water quality issues in sterile processing. The Cheyenne facility focused on eliminating stagnant sections of piping, correcting recirculation, and adding a deionized water system to stabilize conductivity. The Northern Colorado facility resolved stagnant water issues by extending recirculation. The case study underscores the importance of multidisciplinary teamwork and proactive water quality management to prevent contamination and infection. Infection Control Today (4/29) Learn More

Drought could lead to higher antibiotic resistance

A study in Nature Microbiology suggests that drought conditions could accelerate antibiotic resistance by concentrating naturally occurring antibiotics in soil, creating a harsher environment that kills sensitive microbes and spares resistant ones. Researchers found a spike in genes related to antibiotic production and resistance as soil dried. The study also found a correlation between dry regions and higher cases of antibiotic-resistant infections in hospitals. Eos (4/29) Learn More

Tirzepatide may help improve TAVR, PCI outcomes

Tirzepatide is associated with significant benefits for individuals having transcatheter aortic valve replacement or percutaneous coronary intervention procedures, according to findings outlined at the SCAI 2026 Scientific Sessions and CAIC-ACCI Summit. Tirzepatide users had better event-free survival rates and lower risk of adverse cardiovascular events compared with nonusers. Patients not given tirzepatide had a 54% greater risk of acute heart failure hospitalization. Cardiovascular Business (4/24) Learn More

Reports dig into drivers of hospital revenue downturn

Operating margins for hospitals and health systems are stabilizing at historically low levels, reflecting a "new normal" with higher patient volumes outweighed by rising expenses. Reports from Kaufman Hall, the American Hospital Association and Strata Decision Technology highlight rising labor, supply and drug costs as significant challenges for US hospitals. Outpatient revenue had risen 7.2% year-over-year in early 2026, but outpatient care typically has lower reimbursement rates than inpatient care, posing challenges for hospital margins. Healthcare Innovation (4/27) Learn More

House panel questions hospital CEOs about rising costs

Hospital CEOs from CommonSpirit Health, ECU Health, HCA Healthcare and NewYork-Presbyterian faced questions from the House Ways and Means Committee about the high cost of healthcare. Committee Chair Jason Smith, R-Mo., attributed rising costs to the corporatization of hospitals and increased consolidation. The CEOs acknowledged the high costs of care and committed to collaborating on solutions, and they pointed out challenges such as more Americans losing health coverage and issues with insurance payments. Chief Healthcare Executive (4/29) Learn More

Key cardiovascular trials have implications for pharmacy

Pharmacists Craig Beavers and Kyle Fischer discuss in a podcast some important cardiovascular trials presented at ACC.26 and how the findings are likely to impact the field of pharmacy. Pharmacy Times (4/29) Learn More

Pulmonary artery sensor data show benefits

Data show Edwards Lifesciences' Cordella pulmonary artery sensor system can keep patients with moderate to severe heart failure out of the hospital. The two-year data from the PROACTIVE-HF trial showed that more than two-thirds of patients using the system avoided hospitalization for heart failure. MassDevice (Boston) (4/28) Learn More

Cardiovascular Quality and Research News

ACC CV Quality SmartBrief