About a dozen states are experiencing a surge in emergency department visits related to a new combination of fentanyl and a sedative 100 to 200 times more potent than xylazine, The New York Times reported Dec. 15.  The dangerous drug…

Flu-related hospitalizations have surged to their third-highest weekly rate for this point in the season in 15 years, according to CDC data. For the week ending Dec. 6, the cumulative flu hospitalization rate was 6.9 per 100,000 population — nearly…

Concierge and direct primary care models are rapidly reshaping the U.S. primary care landscape. These membership-based practices, which charge monthly or annual fees for enhanced access and longer visits, have increased in recent years — often operating outside the traditional…

The American Hospital Association, American Nurses Association and dozens of other groups representing healthcare professionals are urging federal lawmakers to pass newly reintroduced legislation that would expand the nation’s nursing faculty workforce and modernize nursing education.  The Future Advancement of…

IU Health Bloomington (Ind.) is adding on-call requirements for nursing staff in its acute care and behavioral health units, a spokesperson confirmed to Becker’s Dec. 12. Effective Dec. 28, unit nurses will be required to be on call for 12…

The Oregon Nurses Association has criticized Legacy Emanuel Medical Center in Portland, Ore., for allegedly allowing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to interfere with patient care and privacy. In recent months, ICE has been bringing detainees to Legacy Emanuel Medical…

Hospitals nationwide are facing intensifying staffing pressures, rising patient acuity and growing demands for more sustainable care delivery. At Cleveland-based University Hospitals, a new virtual nursing initiative is offering an effective, systemwide solution. During an October webinar hosted by Becker’s…

Pushback is mounting against new federal student-loan reforms passed under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, with lawmakers warning the policy could further strain the nursing workforce. In a Dec. 12 letter to Nicholas Kent, the undersecretary of education, a…

Flu hospitalizations are at the third-highest level seen at this point in the season in 15 years, according to the CDC’s latest FluView report. The cumulative flu hospitalization rate for the week ending Dec. 6 reached 6.9 per 100,000, ranking…

Emporia, Kan.-based Newman Regional Health and Burlington, Kan.-based Coffey Health System, have partnered through a shared services agreement designed to enhance the availability and continuity of specialty care in rural settings. The partnership launched with general surgery services provided across both hospitals…