Patient Care

This page includes news coverage of various aspects of patient healthcare, including new technology innovations, what is working, what is not, personalized medicine and remote and telemedicine delivery. Find specific news in the areas of Care Delivery, Digital Transformation, Precision Medicine, Remote Monitoring and Telehealth.

Patient dies when surgical blade is left inside him, spurring $1M malpractice lawsuit
The family of Jeffrey Alan Fulcher, 58, sued the Medical University of South Carolina after the father of three died six days after undergoing a minimally invasive procedure to remove part of his esophagus. The state, on behalf of the hospital, settled the case out of court.
AI dramatically improves the detection of severe heart attacks
Researchers put an advanced AI model to the test, using it to evaluate the ECG results of more than 1,000 patients. It performed quite well.
CMS’ AI program to add prior authorizations to traditional Medicare; new bill aims to stop it
President Donald Trump’s administration argues that their “WISeR” model will eliminate unnecessary testing and save Medicare money. But eight Democrats opposing it think it will only bring Medicare Advantage chaos to Part A and Part B.
UnitedHealthcare bucks Medicare, ends reimbursement for most RPM services
Starting in 2026, patients covered by UnitedHealthcare's Medicare Advantage and commercial plans will not have care reimbursed for instances of remote patient monitoring unless they have diagnosed heart failure or are pregnant and experiencing hypertension. The shift stands at odds with traditional Medicare, which added new claims codes for providers to use next year.
Healthcare AI today: Billions for AI-based biotech, fast ROI or else, AI for imprisoned patients, more
The Zuckerbergs have many billions to give away. They want to shower a lot of it on researchers using AI to cure diseases.

EnCompass F2 device from Nevada-based EnCompass Technologies

A closer look at world’s first TAVR patient treated with new cerebral embolic protection device

The device covers three vessels at once and can be deployed through the patient's TAVR access site. Researchers shared their first-in-human experience in JACC: Case Reports.

Society of Thoracic Surgeons provides on-the-go risk evaluations with new mobile app

The STS Risk Calculator App, available on both iOS and Android devices, gives users improved access to real-time risk assessments.

heart surgery Baylor St. Luke's Medical Center

Surgeons complete first fully robotic heart transplant in US history

The historic procedure was performed in Texas on a 45-year-old patient who had been hospitalized for months with advanced heart failure.

Report: Medicaid cuts could force hundreds of rural hospitals to close their doors

A report from the Chartis Center for Rural Health warns that many hospitals in rural communities are at risk of closure if Medicaid cuts pass through Congress and are enacted by President Donald Trump. According to the analysis, women and newborns will disproportionately lose access to care.

FDA issues Class I recall on GE Carestations due to ventilation issue

The issue stems from a mode on the ventilation systems malfunctioning. Although no devices need to be removed from care settings, some will require repair.

FDA issues emergency recall on resuscitation systems due to failure code

A specific model of AutoPulse resuscitation system manufactured by Zoll is prone to a failure code that could result in inadequate chest compressions being administered to patients. The affected kits must be removed from the supply chain immediately.

Suman Tandon, MD, FASNC, a cardiac imager at St. Francis Hospital and Heart Center, in Rosyln, New York, and an American Society of Nuclear Cardiology (ASNC) representative to the American Medical Association (AMA) House of Delegates (HOD), explains ASNC's concerns about artificial intelligence being used to automatically deny prior authorizations and prevent patients from accessing care.

ASNC and AMA push back against AI prior authorization denials

Suman Tandon, MD, a representative of the American Society of Nuclear Cardiology, explains her organization's concerns about artificial intelligence being used to automatically deny prior authorizations and prevent patients from accessing care.

FDA declares Class I recall on heart surgery procedure kits from Medline

The news is related to an earlier recall of more than 316,000 Medtronic devices.

Patient Care

Patient dies when surgical blade is left inside him, spurring $1M malpractice lawsuit

AI dramatically improves the detection of severe heart attacks

CMS’ AI program to add prior authorizations to traditional Medicare; new bill aims to stop it

UnitedHealthcare bucks Medicare, ends reimbursement for most RPM services

Healthcare AI today: Billions for AI-based biotech, fast ROI or else, AI for imprisoned patients, more