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Infections caused by a highly drug-resistant and dangerous bacteria known as NDM-producing carpabenem-resistant Enterobacterales, or NDM-CRE, have surged by more than 460% in the U.S. between 2019 and 2023, according to a CDC report. NDM-CRE are resistant to some of the strongest antibiotics available, making them extremely difficult to treat,…

The District of Columbia has the most active nurse practitioners per capita, while Hawaii has the fewest for the second year in a row, according to a ranking from KFF.  KFF requested from Redi-Data the number of active state-licensed nurse practitioners in the U.S. as of September. Population estimates are…

If healthcare professionals had extra funds, workforce development most likely is how they would spend it, a Becker’s poll found. In a LinkedIn poll, Becker’s asked: If $100 million extra were earmarked for clinical work at your organization, where would you invest it first? The poll received 283 votes and…

Here are six new drug shortages and discontinuations, according to drug supply databases from the FDA and the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists.  Acetazolamide injection: Avet Pharmaceuticals and Hikma have reported a shortage of its 500-milligram, 1-count vials of acetazolamide sodium lyophilized powder for injection. Avet did not provide a…

Women in healthcare leadership continue to face outsized challenges — from implicit bias to unequal expectations. However, it’s become clear that when women occupy the C-suite, quality, culture and financial performance all benefit. In this session — led by Becker’s Vice President of Editorial, Molly Gamble — five women healthcare…

Columbia, Md., is the best U.S. city for women, according to a Sept. 22 ranking from WalletHub. Columbia earned the No. 1 spot for having the highest median earnings for women, adjusted for cost of living, as well as the eighth-lowest female poverty rate in the country. The city also…

U.S. News & World Report has released its latest rankings of the nation’s best Bachelor of Science in Nursing programs. The rankings, released Sept. 23, are part of the media company’s 2026 Best Colleges rankings evaluating nearly 1,700 institutions on up to 17 academic quality measures. They are based on the…

Hospitals acquired by private equity firms experience a higher patient death rate in emergency departments than other hospitals, according to research published in Annals of Internal Medicine.  The study, conducted by researchers at the University of Pittsburgh, University of Chicago and Harvard Medical School in Boston, examined hospital staffing and…

CMS’ Part D Senior Savings Model effectively increased insulin use while reducing out-of-pocket costs among Medicare beneficiaries, according to a RAND report published Sept. 22.  The program also decreased costs for the federal government though Medicare beneficiaries who do not use insulin experienced increased drug insurance costs. CMS tested the…

Robert Winn, MD, had only one thing on his mind when Becker’s asked him what area of oncology deserved more attention: the workforce shortage Dr. Winn is the director and Lipman Chair in Oncology at Richmond, Va.-based VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center. Becker’s caught up with him to learn more…

The Trump administration is exploring the creation of a government website to connect patients directly with pharmaceutical companies offering discounted prescription drugs, according to people familiar with the matter, Bloomberg reported Sept. 19.  The proposed platform, possibly dubbed “TrumpRx,” would allow Americans to search for specific medications and access deals…

Forty-one percent of providers surveyed said they are facing claim denial rates of 10% or higher, up from 38% in 2024, according to a Sept. 22 report from Experian Health. Experian’s “2025 State of Claims” report is based on a survey of 250 healthcare professionals responsible for financial, billing or…

On Sept. 19, President Donald Trump issued a proclamation imposing a $100,000 payment to accompany any new H-1B visa petitions. The administration said the fee will combat “systemic abuse” of the H-1B visa program, but healthcare experts said it will worsen worker shortages. Here are eight things to know. 1.…

Rochester, Minn., offered the highest average annual physician compensation adjusted for cost of living in 2024 among other metropolitan areas in the U.S., according to Doximity’s “Physician Compensation Report 2025.” Boston had the lowest. The report is based on more than 37,000 physician compensation surveys completed in 2024. Over the…

In its first meeting since June, the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices voted in favor of several key recommendations that would alter federal vaccine guidelines if adopted by the CDC. Five takeaways: 1. Day one. On Sept. 18, ACIP voted 8-3, with one member abstaining, to not recommend the…

As health systems continue to discipline employees for inflammatory social media posts, chief marketing officers told Becker’s it’s a constant struggle to inform and police staff about their online activities. Over the past few years, health systems have fired employees or put out public statements after staffers’ controversial takes on…

In 2024, healthcare facilities voluntarily reported 1,575 serious harmful events to The Joint Commission, which has been tracking sentinel events since 1996.  The Joint Commission defines a sentinel event as a patient safety event that results in severe temporary harm, permanent harm or death. Because the reports are voluntary, the…

Wellstar Health System is implementing an AI platform to streamline nurse scheduling at each of its 11 hospitals after a successful pilot program.  During a six-month pilot period, the Atlanta-based system tested use of an AI scheduling copilot called Swift at three hospitals. The platform, created by Vflok, an AI…

U.S. lawmakers introduced the Telehealth Modernization Act of 2025 on Sept. 2 with the aim of preventing Medicare telehealth flexibilities from expiring at the end of the month. Without congressional action, key pandemic-era waivers will lapse on Sept. 30. The bill, led by Reps. Buddy Carter and Debbie Dingell, would…

Clinician burnout may be one of the most pressing and widespread challenges in today’s healthcare environment. In the U.S., research reveals that physicians are 82% more likely to experience burnout than those in other occupations. The consequences are dire, costing the U.S. healthcare system approximately $4.6 billion annually in lost…

Health systems are rethinking nurse employment models to meet growing demands for flexibility and improve retention.  The post-pandemic nursing workforce has largely stabilized, and systems have shifted to a focus on retention and long-term pipeline development. In 2024, turnover rates for staff registered nurses decreased by 2.4%, resulting in a…

The FDA has made public dozens of warning letters sent to drug companies accused of misleading or deceptive advertising.  The disclosures come after the agency said Sept. 9 it would be sending thousands of warning letters and 100 cease-and-desist letters to drug companies over deceptive advertising.  A day later, President…

Hospitals serving socioeconomically disadvantaged communities are less likely to adopt health IT tools such as telehealth and health information exchange platforms. The finding comes from a study published Sept. 5 in JAMA Health Forum, which analyzed 16,646 hospital-level and 9,218 health information exchange observations from the American Hospital Association’s annual…

The Joint Commission awarded three individuals and organizations for excellence in patient safety and healthcare quality. The John M. Eisenberg Patient Safety and Quality Awards, launched in 2002, recognize major achievements by individuals and organizations to improve care and safety. There are three categories: Individual achievement: Individuals who have demonstrated…