Here are seven updates:
Medical errors occur in nearly 50% of surgeries
Boston-based Massachusetts General Hospital researchers found nearly 50 percent of surgeries encounter a medical error or unintended drug side effect. Of the adverse drug events researchers noted might have led to patient harm, 30 percent were deemed significant and 69 percent were considered serious.
Following Olympus email scandal, US representative to push for stringent guidelines for medical device warnings
United States Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Torrance) is urging Congress to tighten requirements governing medical device warnings, in light of Olympus telling U.S. executives not to issue a warning to hospitals regarding a possible deadly infection from tainted scopes. Internal emails from Olympus have surfaced showing that in 2013 the company told executives in the United States that it was not necessary to communicate scope-related infection outbreaks in French and Dutch hospitals to U.S. hospitals.
Anthem is 1st payer to challenge DOJ lawsuit
Following the Department of Justice's lawsuit about the pending payer megamergers, Anthem is the first of the four payers to file paper to fight the suit. Anthem asked the federal judge to set the trial date for October as it its projected to extend for four months. The payer also asked U.S. District Judge John D. Bates to fast-track the case by making a decision nearly a month after the four-month trial.
The CORE Institute teams up with The Joint Commission & CDC on ASC infection control guidelines
To prevent infection in ambulatory surgery centers, The CORE Institute, the Joint Commission, the CDC and other healthcare organizations will collaborate on an initiative on infection prevention and control in ASCs.
Physician-owned ASCs drive growth in global osteosynthesis devices market
A Technavio report projects physician-owned ASCs will drive the global osteosynthesis devices market from 2016 to 2026, among other trends. As surgeons perform more highly advanced MIS procedures, the demand for osteosynthesis devices will follow suit.
Panel favors AmSurg in non-compete controversy with physicians
Three physicians affiliated with an AmSurg-partnered center argued in a federal antitrust lawsuit the ASC company has a monopoly over outpatient surgery centers and their non-compete agreement was overly restrictive and unenforceable. An out-of-court arbitration panel disagreed and found in favor of AmSurg. The judge put the antitrust case "on hold" until the panel went through its process.
Takeda Pharmaceutical plans $725M R&D redesign
Takeda Pharmaceutical is planning a $725 million overhaul of its research and development efforts. Takeda will also focus its efforts in three primary therapeutic areas — oncology, gastroenterology and the central nervous system.
More healthcare news:
Bringing in young blood to your ASC: 4 considerations when recruiting physician investors
Takeda Pharmaceutical plans $725M R&D redesign: 5 things to know
The CORE Institute teams up with The Joint Commission & CDC on ASC infection control guidelines: 5 key notes