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Several smartwatches claim to be able to detect atrial fibrillation in wearers. But how accurate are they? That was the focus of an October meta-analysis in JACC: Advances that reviewed 28 studies spanning 17,349 patients. Here is where the devices ranked for accuracy: Sensitivity 1. Amazfit: 99% 2. Seiko Epson…

Healthcare operates in a highly disrupted market with multiple headwinds, including ongoing staff shortages, financial pressures, policy and regulatory changes and cyber threats. Disruption in the industry is most pronounced among clinical providers, according to the latest AlixPartners’ survey of more than 3,000 global executives across 10 sectors. Tailoring solutions provided the…

Jeff Metts, MD, has been named chief medical officer of Piedmont Newton Hospital in Covington, Ga.  Dr. Metts joins Atlanta-based Piedmont Healthcare from City of Hope Cancer Center Atlanta, where he most recently served as medical director of outpatient medicine, perioperative medicine and occupational health, according to a Nov. 17…

Risk-adjusted in-hospital mortality is once again improving at U.S. hospitals, even as they care for more complex, high-acuity patients after the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a study published Nov. 12 in JAMA Network Open. The study, conducted by the American Hospital Association and Vizient, analyzed more than 7.8 million inpatient…

U.S. healthcare wage disparities modestly narrowed during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new analysis of wage data. The study, published Nov. 3 in Health Affairs, examined data from the Current Population Survey to identify trends in median earnings among healthcare workers between 2015 and 2024. Researchers from Minneapolis-based University…

In the past 12 months, community hospitals experienced a 10.6% increase in the average direct cost per case, while academic medical centers saw an 11.5% higher cost, according to a report from Sg2, a Vizient company.  Between the second quarter of 2024 and the second quarter of 2025, the average…

Kaufman Hall’s recent “National Hospital Flash Report” found the gap between high- and low-performing hospitals has continued to widen this year, despite a steady overall financial performance for nonprofit hospitals. The report, which secured data from 1,300 hospitals across the U.S., found nonprofit hospital adjusted year-to-date operating margins in September…

The U.S. again received a “D+” grade in March of Dimes’ annual report card on maternal and infant health. This marks the fourth consecutive year the U.S. has received a “D+”, pointing to stalled progress in addressing longstanding health disparities and access gaps in maternal health. In 2025, 10.4% of…

Of the 358 hospitals that have earned Leapfrog’s “A” safety grade for at least two consecutive years, 95% are part of a health system. Of the 11 hospitals that have earned consecutive “A” safety grades from The Leapfrog Group since 2012, all are affiliated with health systems.  “For the first…

Is healthcare caught in an AI bubble — a phenomenon in which enthusiasm inflates the perceived value of a technology far beyond its real-world worth? When Politico interviewed Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang for a Nov. 11 story, he predicted that $3 trillion to $4 trillion will be poured into AI…

Hospitals and health systems face relentless financial pressure, yet many continue to forfeit revenue due to outdated and inefficient credentialing and payer enrollment processes. Forward-thinking organizations are breaking this pattern by modernizing these critical functions — shortening credentialing timelines and capturing revenue more quickly. To explore why this shift is…

While nonprofit hospital financial performance has been steady overall this year, the top performing hospitals have continued to shine while lower performing hospitals struggled, according to Kaufman Hall’s “National Hospital Flash Report.” Kaufman Hall, a Vizient company, gathers data from 1,300 hospitals across the U.S. to measure profitability and financial…

A recent Kaufman Hall “Physician Flash Report” for the third quarter of 2025 found that medical group investment dropped in September, a first drop since the COVID-19 pandemic.  The median investment or subsidy per provider dipped slightly from $239,338 to $237,911, ending multiple years of quarterly increase. Matthew Bates, managing…

In 2025, 2 in 5 healthcare workers report feeling their role is unsustainable, and 1 in 4 are considering leaving the industry entirely, according to Indeed’s “Pulse of Healthcare 2025” report. Indeed surveyed 924 U.S. healthcare workers ages 18-65 between July 23 and Aug. 6. Roles included 197 prescribing providers…

Several years ago, Boston-based Massachusetts General Hospital recognized it was facing a growing challenge with emergency department boarding, particularly among general medicine patients. Like many hospitals, MGH had an ED-managed observation unit for patients requiring short-term care, typically under 24 hours. But the hospital increasingly struggled with that setup and…

An influenza strain that emerged over the summer is causing unusually early and severe outbreaks in Canada, the U.K. and Japan, prompting warnings from public health experts about what could be in store for the U.S. as flu season kicks into gear, NBC News reported Nov. 12. The strain is…

The longest government shutdown in American history ended Nov. 12, but the fate of the ACA enhanced premium tax credits — the sticking point for Democrats — will not be decided until December.  Five things to know: 1. President Donald Trump signed the resolution to fund the government through Jan.…

Eleven U.S. hospitals have earned consecutive “A” safety grades from The Leapfrog Group since 2012. Hospital safety grades are assigned biannually, based on the hospital’s ability to protect patients from medical errors, accidents, injuries and infections, according to a Nov. 13 news release from Leapfrog.  Read where Leapfrog’s 23 straight…

Twenty-three U.S. hospitals received an “F” in The Leapfrog Group’s fall 2025 safety grades — including 11 that were downgraded from a “D.” Twice a year, Leapfrog evaluates more than 3,000 general hospitals nationwide based on performance across up to 22 measures of patient safety from CMS. The ratings focus…

How Healthcare Leaders Can Turn Pilot Projects Into Sustainable, System-Wide Results AI is no longer a buzzword in healthcare. It now has its own budget line, and it’s already reshaping the way healthcare gets delivered and paid for. More than 80% of healthcare organizations report active AI projects, but only…

Wyoming is the most charitable state, with residents spending an average of 29 hours per year volunteering and donating nearly 4% of their adjusted gross income, according to WalletHub.    WalletHub analyzed the 50 states by comparing them across 17 key indicators of charitable behavior, such as the volunteer rate and…

“Access to care” emerged as a top healthcare C-suite buzzword heading into 2025. While much of the conversation has focused on coverage, affordability and capacity, hospital and health system leaders told Becker’s the industry often overlooks the more human elements: trust, navigation and how patients actually experience the care journey.…

Average nonprofit hospital margins hit 2.3% in September but performance was hampered by increased expenses and drug costs, according to Kaufman Hall’s “National Hospital Flash Report” released Nov. 12. The report outlines September financial data from 1,300 hospitals across the U.S. based on data from Strata Decision Technology. The margin…

As health systems await a federal funding solution for hospital at home amid the government shutdown, healthcare organizations are mixed on the care model’s return on investment. More than two-thirds of the roughly 20% of health systems that offer hospital at home say the programs increase access to care, boost…