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Drones could speed up delivery of automated external defibrillators to patients suffering cardiac arrest

A new study found that drones can significantly reduce the time between cardiac arrest reporting and defibrillation, particularly in rural and congested areas. By combining fixed AEDs with drones, access times can be reduced by up to 3.76 minutes, with over 95% of cases covered within five minutes.

SourceEuropean Society for Emergency Medicine (EUSEM)·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateSep 25, 2026

Over a third of patients with chest pains could avoid going to emergency departments if ambulance crews use new blood test

A new blood test and scoring system could reduce hospital visits for patients with chest pain by up to 34% by triaging them at home or to their general practitioner. The study found that 165 patients out of 483 assessed by ambulance crews using the test and scoring system were left at home, compared to 19 out of 539 without the test.

Violence against emergency workers is increasing: hospital overcrowding is a major contributor

A survey of 1,300 health professionals worldwide reveals that 75.5% have witnessed violence, with patients and relatives being the main perpetrators. The study highlights overcrowding as a significant contributor to violence, with many respondents reporting psychological harm and diminished quality of care.

SourceEuropean Society for Emergency Medicine (EUSEM)·JournalEuropean Journal of Emergency Medicine·TypeSurvey·DateSep 24, 2026

Study shows how risk of death rises with rate of overcrowding and corridor care in hospital emergency department

Research found that emergency department overcrowding increases patient mortality by one percent for every ten percent increase in occupancy. The study also linked corridor care to increased risk of deaths, highlighting the need for policy makers and hospital managers to prioritize emergency care.

University of Cincinnati emergency medicine physicians safely eliminate thousands of unnecessary CT scans

A targeted quality improvement campaign by University of Cincinnati emergency medicine physicians safely reduced unnecessary head and cervical spine CT scans in low-risk trauma patients, saving patients $6.2 million in healthcare costs and avoiding significant radiation exposure. The campaign, which included continuing education sessio...

SourceUniversity of Cincinnati·JournalWestern Journal of Emergency Medicine·TypeSystematic review·DateSep 18, 2026

Cardiac rehabilitation cuts hospital admissions and heart attack risk

Exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation reduces hospital admissions by a third and heart attack risk by more than a quarter, with long-term benefits and cost-effectiveness. Digital programmes can be just as effective as traditional centre-based services, making rehabilitation more accessible.

SourceCochrane·JournalCochrane Database of Systematic Reviews·TypeSystematic review·DateSep 17, 2026

Joint Statement from the American College of Cardiology, The Society of Thoracic Surgeons, and the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography & Interventions on transcatheter aortic valve replacement national coverage determination

The American College of Cardiology, Society of Thoracic Surgeons, and Society for Cardiovascular Angiography & Interventions released a joint statement on TAVR national coverage determination. The statement aims to preserve the quality framework that contributed to TAVR's success, emphasizing the importance of collaborations, registrie...

Widely-used back braces lack strong evidence for chronic low back pain

A new Cochrane review of 8 randomized controlled trials involving over 500 adults found little to no benefit from widely-used back braces in managing chronic low back pain. The research suggested that the use of lumbar supports may be more common in lower-income countries where active treatment alternatives are less accessible.

SourceCochrane·JournalCochrane Database of Systematic Reviews·TypeSystematic review·DateSep 1, 2026

Focal therapy for prostate cancer

This retrospective study examines patterns and trends of focal therapy for nonmetastatic prostate cancer in US cancer centers. Focal therapy procedures remained uncommon, occurring mostly in low-, high-, or very-high-risk disease settings.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA·DateAug 13, 2026

A hospital that pays for itself? Sounds like a fairy tale

Researchers at Texas A&M University designed a fictional hospital to demonstrate the business case for investing in better design. The model shows that by incorporating evidence-based design strategies, hospitals can recover their additional construction costs within two years and achieve over $100 million in net financial gains over t...

SourceTexas A&M University·JournalBMJ Leader·DateJul 15, 2026

Louisiana study shows promising outcomes for bariatric surgery in adolescents and young adults with severe obesity

A new study from Pennington Biomedical Research Center in Louisiana demonstrates safe and effective bariatric surgery outcomes for young patients with severe obesity. The study found significant improvements in weight loss and obesity-related health conditions, highlighting the importance of multidisciplinary care models.

SourcePennington Biomedical Research Center·JournalObesity Surgery·DateJul 13, 2026

Scheduling surgeons: UMass Amherst researchers identify factors that could influence hospital efficiency

A study at Baystate Medical Center identified factors such as emergency surgeries, chest and heart procedures, and taxing operations affecting surgeons' schedules. These insights aim to optimize surgical scheduling, reduce waste, and improve patient outcomes.

SourceUniversity of Massachusetts Amherst·JournalJournal of the American Medical Informatics Association·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJun 25, 2026

Wider focus holds key to unlocking improvement in global injury care

A new study reveals that improving one element of a healthcare system can lead to worse patient outcomes in low- and middle-income countries due to systemic interconnectedness. Enhancing trust in the healthcare system had the greatest impact on clinical outcomes, but increased demand from more patients can quickly overwhelm services.

SourceUniversity of Birmingham·JournalBMJ Global Health·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJun 21, 2026

NATO battlefield surgery training and surgical simulations among the first courses at Semmelweis University’s new Innovation Center

Semmelweis University's new Anatomy & Innovation Center for Education and Research has hosted two NATO battlefield surgery courses, providing realistic environments for learning and practicing new procedures. The center aims to improve patient safety and quality of care through advanced technologies and hands-on training.

Female patients with traumatic brain injury less likely to be admitted to trauma centres

A study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal found that female patients with traumatic brain injuries are 26% less likely to be admitted to specialized trauma centers than males. This disparity persisted even after adjusting for factors like age, severity of injury, and other health conditions.

SourceCanadian Medical Association Journal·JournalCanadian Medical Association Journal·TypeObservational study·DateJun 15, 2026

Study: Hospital wastewater reveals drug-resistant fungus strains months before patients show symptoms

Researchers used wastewater surveillance to detect drug-resistant Candida auris strains up to five months before patients showed symptoms, opening a new frontier for hospitals. The study found higher detection rates and concentrations of the pathogen in hospital wastewater compared to community-scale treatment plants.

SourceUniversity of Nevada, Las Vegas·JournalNature Communications·DateMay 20, 2026

Restructuring hospitals to help the elderly

Researchers at Kyoto University found that hospital restructuring improved local capacity for elderly hospital admissions and enabled more efficient bed management. The study suggests that reorganization can alleviate regional healthcare disparities in the elderly population.

SourceKyoto University·JournalBMC Health Services Research·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateMay 14, 2026

Birth after uterus transplant

A single-center study demonstrates uterus transplant feasibility in multidisciplinary centers, supporting its use for women with absolute uterine factor infertility. Ongoing reporting and data sharing will refine risk estimates and optimize patient counseling.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA·DateMay 1, 2026

JMIR report: Can digital twins fix hospital patient bottlenecks?

The report highlights the operational wins of health systems utilizing digital twin technology, including reduced ER wait times, increased patient throughput, and optimized surgical blocks. Successful deployment depends on data integrity and a shared definition of reality across the organization.

SourceJMIR Publications·JournalJournal of Medical Internet Research·TypeCommentary/editorial·DateApr 27, 2026

Sugar comforts newborn babies during painful procedures

A new Cochrane review found that sucrose can effectively reduce pain in newborn babies during painful procedures like venepuncture. The study examined 29 clinical trials involving over 2,700 babies and showed that a small amount of sucrose given before the procedure significantly reduces pain when combined with non-nutritive sucking.

SourceCochrane·JournalCochrane Database of Systematic Reviews·TypeSystematic review·DateMar 3, 2026

ESE and ESPE launch joint transition of care guidance to improve outcomes for young people moving from child to adult endocrine care

The ESE and ESPE have launched a landmark Joint Clinical Practice Guidance to support structured and effective transition of young people with endocrine conditions. The Guidance provides practical, evidence-based recommendations to ensure continuity, safety and quality of care during this critical phase in a patient's life.