Threats, obscenities, homicide: Healthcare workers stressed by pandemic face elevated violence

Millions of healthcare workers across the country are becoming inured to workplace violence, which can range from verbal abuse and threats to physical attacks and even homicide.

By Hailey Mensik • March 9, 2022

Telehealth use increased amid omicron as 2021 drew to a close

Telehealth swelled from 4.4% of all medical claims in November to 4.9% in December, with the bump evident across the U.S., according to new Fair Health data.

By Rebecca Pifer • March 7, 2022

Panel warns against 'knee-jerk' rejection of globalization, calls for medical supply chain transparency

Instead of onshoring device manufacturing to stabilize supply chains, a congressionally-mandated committee has recommended more transparency, including disclosing manufacturing sites for all products and components.  

By Nick Paul Taylor • March 7, 2022

Celltrion recalls 1.2M rapid COVID-19 tests for improper labeling

The company initiated the fourth recall of its rapid COVID-19 tests in recent weeks, which the FDA designated as a Class II recall.

By Nick Paul Taylor • Updated March 9, 2022

Yet another survey shows pandemic's persisting toll on healthcare workforce

Over half of the healthcare workers recently surveyed by USA Today and Ipsos Research said they are burned out, and 39% agree with the statement: "The American healthcare system is on the verge of collapse."

By Hailey Mensik • Feb. 23, 2022

Diabetes tech leaders expect another year of growth, innovation as competition soars

MedTech Dive spoke with diabetes technology leaders about what to expect in 2022, the impact of new products and the increasingly competitive market.

By Ricky Zipp • Updated May 12, 2022

Smith & Nephew hires CEO from Siemens Healthineers, forecasts growth for 2022

The orthopaedics company's stock jumped 8% on the CEO news, even though its fourth-quarter revenue fell slightly short of the analyst consensus. Smith & Nephew is more optimistic about 2022 than rivals Stryker and Zimmer Biomet.

By Nick Paul Taylor • Feb. 23, 2022

Medtronic's Q3 revenue misses estimates as omicron curbs procedures

CEO Geoff Martha on Tuesday told investors the COVID-19 resurgence, which peaked in the final weeks of January, curbed procedure volumes. He expects them to recover in March and April.

By Greg Slabodkin • Feb. 22, 2022

Quidel expects COVID-19 test demand to continue through Q2, but offers no 2022 guidance

CEO Doug Bryant told investors Thursday that Quidel is seeing testing demand moderate in February, but the first quarter will result in the largest revenue in the company's history. The company did not provide full-year guidance.

By Greg Slabodkin • Feb. 18, 2022

FDA calls device manufacturing expert meeting to discuss quality system harmonization

After the agency began transitioning its Quality System Regulation in 2018, the public may finally get to see the proposed rule in late February or early March.

By Nick Paul Taylor • Feb. 18, 2022

Medtronic talks diabetes group's FDA warning letter, new products, supply chain constraints

Ali Dianaty, VP of product innovation and operations for Medtronic Diabetes, spoke to MedTech Dive about the warning letter's impact on product reviews, creating insulin pump patches and navigating the pandemic.

By Ricky Zipp • Feb. 18, 2022

Baxter begins integrating Hillrom, faces supply chain pressures

The recent omicron surge put a damper on the company's margins, as shipping costs and healthcare staff shortages rose. Baxter expects these problems to abate in the short term and sees a long-term boost from the Hillrom acquisition.

By Elise Reuter • Feb. 17, 2022

Diagnostics M&A expected to be strong in 2022 after dealmaking took off last year

Respondents to KPMG's survey predict that deal volumes and values for the diagnostics space will jump again this year as companies are ready to spend more of their COVID-19 cash.

By Nick Paul Taylor • Feb. 16, 2022

Inflationary risk 'manageable' for medtechs, but impact will vary: RBC

Companies like Stryker and Zimmer Biomet, with portfolios dominated by more "commoditized" products such as traditional hip, knee and spine devices, will find it hard to pass on rising costs to customers.

By Nick Paul Taylor • Feb. 15, 2022

Hospital leaders, Congress mull fixes to current staffing woes

The omicron variant is posing new challenges as staff call in sick or quit their jobs entirely for higher-paying traveling nurse positions. That's leaving hospitals in a bind as they treat higher acuity COVID-19 patients.

By Hailey Mensik • Feb. 11, 2022

Labcorp, Quest warn COVID-19 testing demand will plummet in 2022

The rival lab giants told investors during their latest earnings calls that they expect coronavirus-related test volumes to nose-dive by as much as 75%.

By Greg Slabodkin • Feb. 11, 2022

Dexcom's G7 gains CE mark after 2021 delay

The company’s newest continuous glucose monitoring system was expected to launch in Europe in 2021, but regulatory delays pushed the release back.

By Ricky Zipp • Updated March 14, 2022

J&J's DePuy Synthes buys ortho company CrossRoads Extremity Systems

The deal, for an undisclosed amount, comes just weeks after Johnson & Johnson executives said the company will have a more aggressive M&A strategy going forward for the pharmaceutical and medical devices businesses.

By Ricky Zipp • Feb. 10, 2022

Healthcare staffing shortages a 'rising concern' for medtechs: Moody's

In a recent quarterly report, Moody's Investors Service called out hospital labor shortages as having a potential material impact on procedures in 2022, even as the omicron surge begins to decline.

By Elise Reuter • Feb. 9, 2022

Robots cushion omicron's blow to Q4 orthopaedic device sales

Zimmer Biomet, Stryker and Johnson & Johnson's businesses endured more pressures tied to the postponement of elective procedures in the fourth quarter, but sales of their robotic systems continued to expand.

By Susan Kelly • Feb. 8, 2022

Zimmer gives investors first look at its dental and spine spinoff

The new, independent company, called ZimVie, is expected to bring in about $1 billion in revenue this year. While the dental unit is expected to grow immediately, the spine unit is projected to drop initially.

By Ricky Zipp • Feb. 8, 2022

Roche partner recalls illegally imported rapid COVID-19 tests from US

FDA said there are "confirmed reports" of unlawful importation of the Standard Q COVID-19 Ag Home Test and South Korea's SD Biosensor is looking into which distributors or people were involved.

By Nick Paul Taylor • Feb. 7, 2022

Abiomed posts record revenues despite COVID-19 waves bookending the quarter

After the company reported $261 million in revenue, BTIG analysts called the update "an encouraging report during a tough earnings season." However, Abiomed's stock still fell by nearly 6% Thursday following the investor call.

By Nick Paul Taylor • Feb. 4, 2022

Procedure volatility, testing uncertainty & FDA delays: Medtech trends in 2022

As companies manage through the omicron surge, and with the threat of potential future variants, the medical device industry is facing another challenging year.

Feb. 4, 2022

CDRH targets hiring, novel approvals among 2022-2025 strategic priorities

FDA's Center for Devices and Radiological Health, whose staff continues to struggle with an unprecedented workload since the pandemic's start, is aiming to achieve at least 90% of its annual hiring targets for certain years.

By Nick Paul Taylor • Feb. 4, 2022