Health care-associated infection rates declined in 2024, continuing a downward trend since the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a CDC report. Central line-associated bloodstream infections decreased by 9%, catheter-associated urinary tract infections went down by 10%, and hospital-onset Clostridioides difficile infection rates declined by 11%.

A study in the Journal of General Internal Medicine found that pain at the time of hospital discharge was associated with increased risk of readmission. The retrospective study involving 7,277 adults found that average pain scores dropped during hospital stays and that patients with increasing intensity of pain at the time of discharge had a 10% higher risk of readmission within 30 days.

Patient safety in outpatient environments faces challenges such as data overload, drug interactions and barriers to patient communication, says Dr. Michael Kozak of HealthLinc. Kozak notes that technology can help mitigate these risks, but alert fatigue remains a significant issue. He also highlights the importance of root cause analysis and process improvement in responding to adverse events.

A study in the journal Critical Care Nurse found a 46.5% reduction in health care-associated conditions with a protocol of targeted pediatric intensive care unit rounds at Children's Hospital Colorado. The approach involved interprofessional teams focusing on patients at high risk for conditions such as central line-associated bloodstream infections and pressure injuries.

Hospitalized patients with duplicate medical records were nearly five times as likely to die in the hospital as similar patients with single records, and they were three times as likely to need intensive care, according to a study in BMJ Quality & Safety. Researchers analyzed data from 12 hospitals and also found longer hospital stays and higher 30-day readmission rates among patients with duplicate records. Most health systems don't meet the recommended record duplication rate or track duplicates.

Hospital mergers and acquisitions are expected to increase in 2026 after reaching a 15-year low of 46 in 2025, according to analysts. Factors contributing to the anticipated rise include a better understanding of policies under the current administration, reluctance to advance deals after passage of the H.R. 1 tax and spending law, and growing financial distress among hospitals.

A study published online in JACC found that patients with atrial fibrillation who used an Apple Watch for ECG monitoring after catheter ablation detected AFib recurrences earlier and had fewer unplanned hospitalizations than those receiving standard care. Conducted at St. Bartholomew's Hospital in London, the trial involved 168 patients and highlighted the potential of integrating wearable devices into post-ablation follow-up. Researchers said the open-label design may have influenced results, and brief AFib episodes could have been missed.

The ACC, American Heart Association, European Society of Cardiology and World Heart Federation released a statement highlighting the impact of environmental stressors on cardiovascular health. The statement, published in JACC, calls for a system-level framework to better understand these effects, emphasizing the need for governance, climate-resilient infrastructure and public awareness campaigns. Learn more.

A study in the journal Chest found that moderate to severe nocturnal hypoxemia was linked to lower rates of cardiovascular events among individuals with acute coronary syndrome and obstructive sleep apnea. The results suggest a complex, possibly protective, relationship between the degree of nocturnal hypoxemia and cardiovascular outcomes in the OSA population, researchers noted.

It's time to vote for which general session topic you'd like to see at ACC Quality Summit 2026, taking place Sept. 16-18 in Orlando, FL. Make sure the program reflects what matters most to you and your team! Cast your vote by Friday, Feb. 13. Plus, abstract submissions are open until Monday, March 23. Gain national recognition for your quality improvement work and submit today.

Medicare beneficiaries with cardiovascular disease or risk factors had lower hospitalizations, increased use of outpatient care and significantly elevated mortality in the later part of the COVID-19 pandemic vs. the prepandemic period, according to a recent study published in JACC. Rishi K. Wadhera, MD, MPP, MPhil; Karen E. Joynt Maddox, MD, MPH, FACC, and colleagues note that the largest increases in mortality were observed in vulnerable communities and those covered by Medicare Advantage. Read on and watch a JACC Author Interview for more on this topic.