Healthcare News and Research

Latest Healthcare News and Research

When the doctor needs a checkup

He was a surgical oncologist at a hospital in a Southern city, a 78-year-old whose colleagues had begun noticing troubling behavior in the operating room.

4 Feb 2026

Duplicate medical records linked to higher hospital death risk

Patients with duplicate medical records are 5 times more likely to die after being admitted to hospital and 3 times more likely to require intensive care than those with a single medical record, reveals US research published online in the journal BMJ Quality & Safety.

3 Feb 2026

Targeted PICU rounds reduce the rate of healthcare-associated conditions

Rounds focused on critically ill pediatric patients at the greatest risk for developing healthcare-associated conditions (HACs) reduced the rate of specific HACs by nearly 50% at a Colorado hospital, according to a study published in Critical Care Nurse (CCN).

3 Feb 2026

Financial incentives improve glycemic control in low-income diabetes patients

A new study examined whether providing financial vouchers to offset medication costs, conditional on improved blood sugar levels, could enhance glycemic control.

3 Feb 2026

A common diabetes drug may prevent long COVID when taken early

Research supports metformin's efficacy in reducing long COVID symptoms, suggesting its use in acute COVID-19 cases could alleviate long-term health impacts.

3 Feb 2026

Poll: Many adults over 50 skip flu and COVID vaccines

This winter's brutal flu season isn't over, and COVID-19 cases have risen recently too. But a new poll taken in recent weeks shows that vaccination against both viruses lags among people 50 and over, and the national survey reveals key reasons why.

3 Feb 2026

Chronic eczema burdens physical and mental health in older people

Eczema is a group of inflammatory and chronic skin conditions, and it is the most common skin disease among older people.

3 Feb 2026

Cardiologists highlight overlooked heart risks across women’s lives

Heart disease remains the leading cause of death for women in the United States, yet awareness of cardiovascular risk—particularly among younger women and women of color—has stalled, even as rates of high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, and high cholesterol continue to rise.

3 Feb 2026

Why cardiologist evaluation matters after non-cardiac surgery

Interdisciplinary collaboration with cardiologists in non-cardiac surgery enhances patient outcomes, reducing cardiac event risks and improving survival rates.

3 Feb 2026

Psychotic disorders increasingly diagnosed in younger Canadians

A new study suggests that people born more recently are being diagnosed with psychotic disorders (e.g., schizophrenia) more often and at younger ages compared with people born earlier.

3 Feb 2026

If you’re pregnant and uninsured, Medicaid might be your answer

When she noticed an unusual craving for hot dogs, Matte'a Brooks suspected her body was telling her something, so she decided to take a pregnancy test. She took two just to be sure. Both were positive.

3 Feb 2026

How conflicting MIC breakpoints distort antimicrobial resistance data

The review emphasizes that differing CLSI and EUCAST breakpoints complicate AMR tracking, calling for standardized criteria to enhance global health security.

3 Feb 2026

Most commercially insured patients live with chronic conditions

The majority (57.5 percent) of commercially insured patients had at least one chronic condition in 2024. The average allowed amount for a patient with no chronic conditions was $1,590, while the average allowed amount for a patient with one chronic condition was nearly double ($3,039).

2 Feb 2026

Clinical trial launched to test experimental intranasal spray against respiratory viruses

Last year, at least one million people in the U.S. were hospitalized for respiratory virus illnesses like the flu or COVID-19, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

2 Feb 2026

Miniaturized ultrasound system may enable earlier detection of breast cancer

For people who are at high risk of developing breast cancer, frequent screenings with ultrasound can help detect tumors early. MIT researchers have now developed a miniaturized ultrasound system that could make it easier for breast ultrasounds to be performed more often, either at home or at a doctor's office.

2 Feb 2026

Tufts University School of Medicine launches its Doctor of Physical Therapy programs in Atlanta

Tufts University School of Medicine is expanding its Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) programs with the launch of a new location in Atlanta, joining programs in Boston, Phoenix, and Seattle.

2 Feb 2026

Visceral pain: More unpleasant, increases empathy, especially for loved ones

Interoceptive, visceral pain from within the body is perceived more unpleasant than exteroceptive pain from outside the body.

2 Feb 2026

Why the carnivore diet’s claimed benefits don’t outweigh its health risks

Researchers determine the nutritional adequacy and health effects of the carnivore diet.

2 Feb 2026

Your next primary care doctor could be online only, accessed through an AI tool

When her doctor died suddenly in August, Tammy MacDonald found herself among the roughly 17% of adults in America without a primary care physician.

2 Feb 2026

When health insurance costs more than the mortgage

When Noah Hulsman, who owns a skate shop in Louisville, Kentucky, learned he no longer qualified for federal subsidies to help him pay for his "gold" Affordable Care Act health plan, the 37-year-old opted for skimpier coverage. But the deductible is about a quarter of his yearly income.

2 Feb 2026