Allegheny Health Network (AHN) last week opened a “significantly expanded inpatient rehabilitation unit” at AHN Allegheny Valley Hospital (AVH) in Natrona Heights, Pa. The newly renovated and expanded unit is the result of a $6.2 million investment that AHN said establishes AVH as its “center of excellence” for inpatient rehabilitation…
CBS affiliate KMOV-TV broadcast an investigation last week that reported concerning conditions about the state of surgical instruments at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis. The TV station said it received tips from anonymous whistleblowers who “are terrified of losing their jobs but felt compelled to speak out” about “potentially contaminated…
The Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) this week posted a compelling story about a notable medical assistant who provides deeply personal counsel to anxious heart failure patients. The story shows perioperative leaders how thoughtful staffing can immensely improve the patient experience. It focuses on medical assistant Tina McCorkle, who talks…
A general surgeon operating at St. Mary’s Sacred Heart Hospital in Lavonia, Ga., was arrested and facing charges after a patient says he assaulted her in her hospital room hours after her procedure. According to a police report obtained by WSB-TV in Atlanta, the patient said she was on the…
In its January Bulletin, the American College of Surgeons (ACS) has published a review of what it calls “significant” updates to CPT coding, payment models, and physician reimbursement that have taken effect in 2026. Here’s what’s particularly on surgeons’ minds: “Coding changes for general surgery and related specialties.” ACS specifically…
Sahan Journal, a nonprofit digital newsroom dedicated to reporting for immigrants and communities of color in Minnesota, reported that dozens of healthcare professionals and community members expressed concern about the presence of federal immigration officers at Minneapolis’ Hennepin County Medical Center (HCMC) at a Hennepin County Board of Commissioners meeting…
A study in the February 2026 issue of Anesthesiology, the peer-reviewed medical journal of the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA), documents a steady rise in surgical patients who are being treated with medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD), which it says highlights a “gap between current surgical pain practices and…
A new article in ACS Bulletin, a publication from the American College of Surgeons (ACS), takes a deep dive into how the rapid adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare settings is forcing the industry to “reimagine the future of surgery.” Dr. Lenworth Jacobs Jr., a professor of surgery at…
A study from Canadian and Australian researchers has found that lower neighborhood income is associated with higher postoperative mortality, and suggests that improving surgical outcomes may require addressing disparities in social determinants of health. The study, published this week on JAMA Network Open, sought to answer the question, “How are…
Retained surgical items (RSIs) remain among the most preventable yet persistently recurring surgical “never events.” Despite decades of implementing process checklists, counting protocols, and technology solutions, surgical items continue to be left inside patients across the country. The University of Michigan Health’s Periprocedural Safety and Quality Improvement (PSQIP) team says…
