CMS will end health equity and social drivers of health reporting requirements for its end-stage renal disease quality reporting and incentive programs on Dec. 31. CMS administers the End-Stage Renal Disease Quality Reporting System and the ESRD Quality Incentive Program…

In 2022, the American Nurses Credentialing Center unveiled the Magnet with Distinction program to recognize the world’s highest performing Magnet organizations. Since then, 68 hospitals in the U.S. and one in Saudi Arabia have achieved the designation.  The ANCC, a subsidiary…

The American Academy of Physician Associates made several strides in 2025 to rebrand the PA profession and sunset the term “physician assistant.” AAPA voted to adopt “physician associate” as the official title for the profession in 2021. The organization acknowledges,…

Many health systems with virtual nursing programs say these remote care models have strong ROI — but few share specific wins and results.  Bedside nurses have shared mixed reviews on virtual nursing. Between December 2023 and March 2024, researchers at…

Across 8,584 U.S. acute care hospital units, higher nurse turnover is significantly associated with increased patient falls, according to a study published Dec. 29 in JAMA.  Previous research has detected this association, but there is limited evidence exploring the trend…

There has been a 95% decline in U.S. tetanus cases over the last 77 years, but as vaccination rates slip and climate change-related natural disasters increase, the annual tetanus case count is rising, NBC News reported Dec. 24.  A joint…

A security guard at M Health Fairview Lakes Medical Center has died after being assaulted by a patient on Dec. 25, according to the Wyoming Police Department. While working on Christmas Day, Andrea Merrell was reportedly attacked by a patient…

The flu season is off to a severe and early start, with outpatient visits for flu-like illness already reaching levels rarely seen this time of year. As of mid-December, the rate of outpatient visits for flu-like illness was tracking as…

More than 9,850 patients visited New York City emergency departments with influenza-like symptoms during the week ending Dec. 20 — the most of any week in the past decade, The New York Times reported Dec. 26.  Manhasset, N.Y.-based Long Island…

Healthcare has always been about people and the connection between provider and patient. Yet too often, that connection gets buried by administrative burden and technological roadblocks. At NextGen Healthcare, we believe clinical efficiency isn’t just about reducing clicks—it’s about saving…