Alexandra Murphy

The FDA has approved Pfizer and BioNTech’s updated COVID-19 vaccine for adults 65 and older along with individuals ages 5-64 who are at increased risk of severe COVID-19.  The new formulation targets several SARS-CoV-2 sublineages, aligning with the FDA guidance to better match circulating strains expected during the 2025-2026 virus…

The rate of Medicare enrollees leaving acute care hospitals against medical advice increased 46% between 2006 and 2023, from 0.68% to 0.99% of discharges, according to a report from HHS’ Office of Inspector General.  The COVID-19 pandemic saw a spike of Medicare patients leaving hospitals against medical advice, with the…

A study led by Salt Lake City-based University of Utah analyzed nearly 150,000 hospitalized patients with critical injuries and found that a majority of these patients are not transferred to an appropriate site of care.  Transfers to higher-level care centers, such as level 1 or 2 trauma centers, is called…

In 2022, the American Nurses Credentialing Center unveiled the Magnet with Distinction program to recognize the world’s highest performing Magnet organizations. Since then, 40 hospitals in the U.S. and one in Saudi Arabia have achieved the designation.  The ANCC, a subsidiary of the American Nurses Association, awards hospitals Magnet designations based…

Normally by this time of year as fall approaches, the FDA has approved new formulas for COVID-19 shots and CDC recommendations on who should receive them have been finalized.  As this year’s respiratory virus season kicks into gear and COVID cases begin to tick up, guidance on who will have…

Ambiguity around medical equipment cleaning and handling is more than a compliance issue. It slows care, drives up costs and undermines staff confidence. During a recent discussion hosted by Becker’s Healthcare, Brooke Hossfeld, Infection Prevention Specialist at Sodexo Healthcare, and Scott Varnum, Vice President of Operations for Healthcare Technology Management…

White Plains, N.Y.-based Burke Rehabilitation Hospital recently earned a spot on U.S. News and World Report’s ranking of the top 50 rehabilitation hospitals in the U.S. Led by Executive Director Scott Edelman, the 150-bed inpatient facility is part of New York City-based Montefiore Health System and will open its 15th…

The AI wave in healthcare revenue cycle management (RCM) shows no signs of slowing down. Every week, new solutions promise automation, intelligence, and operational efficiency. But for CFOs, the real challenge isn’t in hearing the pitch — it’s in separating substance from hype. AI is not magic. It’s software. And…

After the Supreme Court ruled in 2023 that affirmative actions were unconstitutional, racial and ethnic diversity declined in medical school admissions and matriculations, according to research published Aug. 26 in JAMA.  Researchers from Yale School of Medicine in New Haven, Conn., University of California School of Medicine in Sacramento and…

Like you, I built my career in healthcare. For years, I played a critical role in transforming the U.S. subsidiary of a leading global medical device company into a significant growth driver. I worked hard, was committed to its mission (and still am), delivered exceptional results, and enjoyed life-changing personal…

Here are five new drug shortages and discontinuations, according to drug supply databases from the FDA and the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists.  Bumetanide injection: Several manufacturers, including Fresenius Kabi, Hikma Pharmaceuticals, Novadoz Pharmaceuticals and Sagent Pharmaceuticals have reported a shortage of bumetanide injection, a cardiovascular drug used as a…

Evanston, Ill.-based Endeavor Health is in the midst of executing a $181 million expansion plan. An integral part of which is integrating its newly launched Endeavor Health Cancer Institute across the nine-hospital system. At the helm of this integration are Ted James, MD, system physician executive of the Endeavor Health…

Since joining North Kansas City, Mo.-based NKC Health in 2021, Senior Vice President and CFO Austin Jones has steered the organization through a 40% growth in net patient service revenue and he’s not afraid to invest in areas many hospitals are abandoning.  One of those investments is labor and delivery…

Aurora Medical Center-Sheboygan County in Wisconsin plans to stop offering inpatient psychiatric care and convert those beds to medical and surgical beds beginning Sept. 19, according to Wisconsin Public Radio. In a statement shared with the news outlet, Aurora Health Care attributed the decision to increased demand for medical and…

Willows, Calif.-based Glenn Medical Center filed an Aug. 22 WARN notice for 225 employees after the hospital shared plans to close following CMS’ decision to revoke its critical access hospital designation on Oct. 21.  Jennifer Still, GMC hospital administrator, told Becker’s that the 225 layoffs include 150 full- and part-time…

HHS and the Department of Education have called for immediate reforms to how nutrition education and training are implemented in U.S. medical schools as part of a sweeping initiative to tackle chronic disease and promote prevention-focused care. The initiative is part of President Donald Trump and HHS Secretary Robert F.…

The healthcare industry is not taking action with respect to population and behavioral health at the level it should, according to Tim Robinson, CEO of Nationwide Children’s Hospital.  One area of population health investment at the Columbus, Ohio-based hospital has been housing, where it is nearing its 1,000th unit affected…

As researchers study the efficacy of GLP-1s like Ozempic and Mounjaro in treating dementia and other health issues with an eye toward expanding their usage, oncologists are looking at a GLP-1 role in cancer care. Several studies have shown the therapies — currently approved for Type 2 diabetes, weight loss,…

Thousand Oaks, Calif.-based HCA Healthcare’s Los Robles Health System has created a tool that acts as a “smoke detector for sepsis,” according to an Aug. 26 news release shared with Becker’s. The algorithmic tool, Sepsis Prediction and Optimization of Therapy, is designed to detect early warning signs of sepsis and…

Unprecedented pressure has been placed on rural and community-based hospitals following the passage of the federal reconciliation package (originally H.R. 1), now law. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) outlined that the bill would reduce federal Medicaid spending by $1 trillion and increase the number of uninsured people by 10 million.…

One in 5 chief human resources officers across industries expect hiring to slow in the next six months. This is nearly twice the share who anticipated pullback in 2024, according to a Q2 Conference Board survey of more than 100 leaders. What is the outlook at hospitals and health systems?…

Nurses at UP Health System-Marquette, who are represented by the Michigan Nurses Association, have reached a tentative labor contract on Aug. 24. The nurses’ tentative agreement follows an Aug. 18 “practice strike” by union members. According to a joint news release, the deal includes guaranteed wage increases of 18.75% over…

As supply costs rise and disruptions persist, health systems are finding new ways to balance cost while building more reliable supply chains. Leaders are focusing on smarter purchasing, closer clinical partnerships and optimizing data to ensure high-quality care while controlling cost.  Here are responses from seven supply chain leaders who…

A majority of hospital and health system executives believe AI could improve clinical decision-making and cut costs, but few say they are ready to integrate the technology into day-to-day care, an Aug. 26 report from Sage Growth Partners found. Sage Growth Partners surveyed 101 executives across integrated delivery networks, academic…