Care Delivery

This channel includes news on cardiovascular care delivery, including how patients are diagnosed and treated, cardiac care guidelines, policies or legislation impacting patient care, device recalls that may impact patient care, and cardiology practice management.

Analysis: The public may not be wrong to think of the ED as the ‘front door’ of the hospital
The perception is probably more pronounced in community hospital EDs than their academic counterparts.
Upfront costs of robotic heart surgery are high—but it may be a smart investment
Makoto Hashimoto, MD, PhD, said robotic procedures are associated with a faster recovery time and many other potential benefits.
State sues AI company after bot impersonates doctor
The digital entity gave at least one end-user a phony medical-license number. Unfortunately for the chatbot, that end-user was a state investigator.
UnitedHealthcare looks to reduce prior authorizations by 30% before end of 2026
The insurance arm of UnitedHealth Group said the shift is part of its ongoing effort to eliminate the barriers between care delivery and medical coverage. The full list of services exempt from prior authorizations includes diagnostic tests and many outpatient surgeries.
Blame towering market power for soaring hospital prices: Healthcare affordability specialist
“When hospitals that were once competitors merge, prices go up—often by double-digit percentages—with no measurable improvement in patient outcomes.”

hospital chief financial officer pain points

Hospitals’ fiscal ‘pain points’ topped by revenue cycle management, labor costs, workforce shortages

Healthcare CFOs spend more time dealing with cost management and, by extension, operational issues than any other single set of items on their to-do lists.

Surgeon removes pig kidney from cold storage ahead of transplant

Human patient receives first-ever pig kidney transplant

“Applause broke out in the OR. It was quite an amazing experience,” recalls Winfred Williams, MD, associate professor of medicine at MGH and Slayman’s nephrologist, referring to the moment the kidney “immediately pinked up” during implantation.

artificial intelligence AI in healthcare

Industry Watcher’s Digest

Buzzworthy developments of the past few days.

artificial intelligence kaiser permanente

AI alone won’t save lives or improve health: Kaiser Permanente AI exec

Imperfect algorithms. Resistant clinicians. Wary patients. Divisive disparities. The plot ingredients of a flashy techno-thriller coming to a cineplex near you? No—just a few of the many worries that provider organizations take on when they move to adopt AI at scale.

Industry Watcher’s Digest

Buzzworthy developments of the past few days.

Healthcare AI: Welcome to our generation’s ‘great Gold Rush’

It’s more critical for U.S. healthcare to get medical AI right than to get it adopted far, wide and ASAP.

Geriatrician gives 3 reasons older Americans should get the latest COVID jab now-ish

Early May will mark the first anniversary of the officially declared end of the COVID-19 public health emergency by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Nevertheless ...

Pandemic-era struggles fading from relevance, healthcare CFOs optimistic about the fiscal future

December 2023 brought the 10th consecutive month with balance sheets in the black—and most healthcare financial leaders believe the momentum will have some legs.

Care Delivery

Analysis: The public may not be wrong to think of the ED as the ‘front door’ of the hospital

Upfront costs of robotic heart surgery are high—but it may be a smart investment

State sues AI company after bot impersonates doctor

UnitedHealthcare looks to reduce prior authorizations by 30% before end of 2026

Blame towering market power for soaring hospital prices: Healthcare affordability specialist