Researchers from Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston have developed “surgery in a pill” to treat type 2 diabetes by lowering blood glucose levels after a meal. The newly developed approach was outlined in a study published June 11 in Nature Materials.

Apple has applied for a patent for a wearable blood pressure monitor—a cuff with sensors that could be compatible with Bluetooth.

Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Ajit Pai introduced a draft order to increase funding allocated to the Universal Service Fund’s Rural Health Care Program.

Between 2008 and 2016, NPs increased from 17.6 percent of providers in rural areas to 25.2 percent. In non-rural areas, the increase was smaller but still significant—with the share of NPs making up 23 percent of the providers in 2016, up from 15.9 percent in 2008.

It stands to reason oversight from an experienced colleague could help reduce mistakes from greener individuals. But increased supervision of medical residents by attending physicians during patient rounds did not significantly reduce the number of medical errors, according to a study published June 4 in JAMA Internal Medicine.

Nearly three quarters of infection preventionists (IP) had single-site responsibilities and dedicated more than 75 percent of their time to prevention and control, according to a study published May 31 in the American Journal of Infection Control.

Risk adjustment models for acute myocardial infarction (AMI) used by CMS suggest a diagnosis of atherosclerosis is associated with about a 40 percent reduction in 30-day mortality for Medicare beneficiaries. Researchers found hospitals that provide more extensive cardiac care are more likely to report the condition, thereby skewing the risk models.

The American College of Cardiology (ACC)’s new accreditation program, HeartCARE Center: National Distinction of Excellence, will be designated “forward thinking” hospitals and healthcare systems that demonstrate excellence in cardiovascular care and also “advance the cause of sustainable quality improvement.”