Hospitals across Chicago are standing by, equipped to handle any medical emergencies that may arise as the city hosts the Democratic National Convention.

A pilot program at Rady Children's Hospital-San Diego (Calif.) is credited with reducing mental health visits to the emergency department by 40%, the American Hospital Association reported.

White Plains (N.Y.) Hospital was forced to relocate dozens of patients Aug. 15 after a sprinkler malfunction caused one wing of the facility to flood, CBS New York reported. 

Healthcare systems do not traditionally see caregivers as part of the care continuum or team, but they're missing out on a key factor that could help prevent readmissions and negative patient outcomes, Mia Yang, MD, told Becker's.

Bystander CPR is associated with higher survival rates for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, but its association is weakest among Black individuals and women, according to a recent study.

The American College of Surgeons has removed Flagstaff (Ariz.) Medical Center's Level 2 Trauma Center verification after an onsite review and renewal application.

More than 300 hospitals have started hospital-at-home programs, but critics question how effective they are, The Wall Street Journal reported Aug. 13.

Most systems are finding ways to cut wait times, but a recent study from Providence, R.I.-based Brown University found that for some patients, a longer wait increases desire to seek treatment.

Upland, Pa.-based Crozer Health will end surgical services at Taylor Hospital in Ridley Park, Pa., by Sept. 1, according to WHYY.

Greenfield, Iowa-based Adair County Memorial Hospital is partially reopening nearly three months after it was damaged by an EF4 tornado, ABC affiliate KCCI reported Aug. 12.

After a three-month pause, Rocky Mountain Regional VA Medical Center in Aurora, Colo., is resuming all surgeries Aug. 12. 

Phoenix-based St. Luke's Behavioral Health Center transferred 98 patients after its air conditioning system broke, resulting in patient room temperatures reaching nearly 100 degrees, Arizona's Family reported Aug. 12.

Researchers from the Huntsman Cancer Institute and the University of Utah, both based in Salt Lake City, found that 34% of rural patients said they have easy access to medical specialists.

For hospital staff in Charleston, S.C., contenting with flood waters from multiple hurricanes and tropical storms, as well as rising oceans, is all in a day's work, The Washington Post reported Aug. 8.

UK King's Daughters Medical Center in Ashland, Ky., has been forced to delay and cancel some surgical procedures over the past several months.

The effects of the demographic shift in the U.S. are being felt acutely in healthcare, where the rising number of older adults is increasing demand for both post-acute care (PAC) and long-term services. Health systems are struggling to meet this growing demand due to labor shortages, rising labor costs and evolving reimbursement models.

In 2023, a record number of more than 31 million people received care at health centers funded by the Health Resources and Services Administration.

Health systems across several southeastern states are closing clinics and rescheduling elective procedures as Tropical Storm Debby is expected to bring prolonged downpours and flooding through Aug. 9. 

Home visit companies pushed nurses to run screening tests and add diagnoses during patient visits, which added up to about $15 billion in extra pay from Medicare Advantage between 2019 to 2021, The Wall Street Journal reported Aug. 4.

The future of healthcare is in streamlining the care process to reduce the number of patients physicians see and improve informatics — but no one is ready to invest in these changes, two leaders told Becker's.