HMO Improvements
Survey Reveals that HMOs Made Improvements in Quality of Care During 1999
The nonprofit National Committee for Quality Assurance, which helps employers gauge the quality of their health insurance plans, studied clinical quality measures and reported that the industry had made significant gains in 1999. The analysis is based upon 466 health plans that insure about 51 million people. The most noteworthy progress is in improvements in heart-disease prevention and childhood immunizations. The survey also reported areas that need improvement. Two major areas of concern are patients with asthma and preventative medicine (e.g., diabetic-eye exams and cervical-cancer screening). For more information visit www.ncqa.org.
The Next Frontier in Infection Control: AI-Driven Operating Rooms
Published: July 15th 2025 | Updated: July 15th 2025Discover how AI-powered sensors, smart surveillance, and advanced analytics are revolutionizing infection prevention in the OR. Herman DeBoard, PhD, discusses how these technologies safeguard sterile fields, reduce SSIs, and help hospitals balance operational efficiency with patient safety.
CDC Urges Vigilance: New Recommendations for Monitoring and Testing H5N1 Exposures
July 11th 2025With avian influenza A(H5N1) infections surfacing in both animals and humans, the CDC has issued updated guidance calling for aggressive monitoring and targeted testing to contain the virus and protect public health.
A Helping Hand: Innovative Approaches to Expanding Hand Hygiene Programs in Acute Care Settings
July 9th 2025Who knew candy, UV lights, and a college kid in scrubs could double hand hygiene adherence? A Pennsylvania hospital’s creative shake-up of its infection prevention program shows that sometimes it takes more than soap to get hands clean—and keep them that way.
