As 2018 comes to a close, we're taking a look back at the Daily Briefing's most-read stories of the year.
Readers unsurprisingly dove deep into stories about the Amazon-Berkshire-JPMorgan venture, the highest-paid health care jobs, and hospitals' responses to active shooters. But several other, perhaps unexpected topics also attracted plenty of attention (remember the great "Yanny" vs. "Laurel" debate back in May?).
Below, we round up 10 of the Daily Briefing's most popular articles of 2018.
1. The 10 highest-paying jobs in health care
A CNBC review of federal data highlighted the highest-paid health care professionals—and doctors weren't the only ones with six-figure compensation.
2. 10 must-read books for the summer, according to Advisory Board experts
Advisory Board's experts offered 10 recommendations on what you should read on your summer vacation to become a better leader, think more clearly, and explore contemporary issues within and beyond health care.
3. Our take: The Amazon-Berkshire-JPMorgan partnership's potential—and unanswered questions
Amazon, Berkshire Hathaway, and JPMorgan Chase in January announced plans to launch a health care company to serve their 1.2 million U.S. employees, with the potential to serve "all Americans," according to JPMorgan's CEO. The new company will be "free from profit-making incentives and constraints," the companies said.
4. Why your friends keep talking about 'Yanny' vs. 'Laurel'—and what science says
In May, the internet erupted into a passionate debate: What, exactly, was said in a short, viral audio clip? Medical science can (probably) explain why some people are 100% confident they hear "Laurel," while others are equally adamant they hear "Yanny."
5. The 158 best hospitals, according to U.S. News
U.S. News & World Report in August released its 29th annual Best Hospitals rankings, with Mayo Clinic topping the publication's "Honor Roll" for the third year in a row.
6. How Mercy Hospital staff responded when an active shooter entered the ED
A gunman opened fire at Chicago's Mercy Hospital in November, killing a physician, a pharmaceutical assistant, and a police officer. Police officers and the hospital's medical personnel sprang into action after the gunman entered the building, searching for victims and the gunman before they learned the gunman had died.
7. Leapfrog grades 2,479 hospitals from 'A' to 'F.' How did yours fare?
The Leapfrog Group in April released its Spring Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grades, giving 750 hospitals an "A" grade but giving more than 1,000 a "C" or below.
8. The 5 habits that could help you live 10+ years longer
Men and women who adhere to five lifestyle habits may live more than 10 years longer than those who don't, according to a study published in May in the journal Circulation.
9. The hard-to-believe photo that reveals 'the beautiful anatomy of the human body'
The New England Journal of Medicine this month shared a photo "of a mysterious, branchlike structure" that a patient had coughed up—capturing the interest of medical professionals and Twitter users alike.
10. 'I wanted him to die': How a surgeon controlled his emotions while operating on a murderer
In his book "Confessions of a Surgeon: The Good, the Bad, and the Complicated ... Life Behind the O.R. Doors," Paul Ruggieri, a trauma surgeon, reckons with the moral crucibles that doctors face, including sharing his experience operating on a patient who had just killed his wife.
5 webconferences to help you start 2019 off right
No matter what your goals are for 2018, our webconferences give you the strategies and insights to achieve them. These expert-led sessions are your opportunity to hear our latest research and best practices on some of health care's most pressing topics.
Save your spot now for these upcoming webconferences:
- Jan. 14: The right (and wrong) way to design your service line fundraising program
- Jan. 16: 5 key studies hospital planners must understand for 2019—explained in 45 minutes
- Jan 23: The 6 trends that will reshape cancer care
- Jan. 24: Learn the key health care IT industry trends for 2019
- Jan. 24: How to tackle the opioid crisis and drug diversion