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December 2014 See the full issue

Former OR Manager of the Year directs team at Nebraska biocontainment unit

Two OR nurses are part of a diverse team that cares for Ebola patients at the Nebraska Biocontainment Patient Care Unit in Omaha, and the team’s nursing director is Shelly Schwedhelm, MSN, RN, a former OR Manager of the Year. “I chose OR nurses to be on the team because…

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By: OR Manager
November 17, 2014
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Software orients staff, advances 'rep-less' model

What started out as a software package to train medical device representatives for the OR has evolved into a program to train OR personnel to scrub and support a “rep-less” model. The software, designed by a former perioperative nurse, helps orient staff to new procedures, documents their competency, and streamlines…

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By: OR Manager
November 17, 2014
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Editorial

More than 2,600 hospitals in fiscal year 2015 are facing Medicare readmission penalties, to the tune of an estimated $428 million, a recent Kaiser Health News report indicates. Among these, 39 hospitals—including some specialty surgical hospitals, small community hospitals, and a major teaching facility—will lose the maximum 3% of their…

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By: OR Manager
November 17, 2014
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Orthopedic implant overhaul nets cost savings and surgeon satisfaction

One way to shave the OR operating budget is to trim the supply spend, and for orthopedic service lines in particular, reining in costs related to implants can make a big impact. Some orthopedic service providers have achieved dramatic savings by adopting a “rep-less” model for certain procedures. At Loma…

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By: OR Manager
November 17, 2014
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Potential rewards justify efforts to create bundled payment programs

Physician alignment is a key element of current hospital strategy. Last month, we looked at how hospital ORs can use co-management agreements to build strong collaboration with surgeons. Payment reform has created an even more sophisticated option—participation in a bundled payment program. Bundled payment initiatives are more complex than most…

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By: OR Manager
November 17, 2014
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Best sterile processing managers anticipate, collaborate, stay up to date

With more than 36 years of experience in sterile processing, I have seen many changes occur, and I know what it takes to be an effective sterile processing (SP) manager. The goal of an effective SP manager is to determine where the department is now, where you want it to…

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By: OR Manager
November 17, 2014
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Avera McKennan finds innovative strategies to address orthopedic pain management

Postsurgical pain scores are highly correlated with reports of overall patient satisfaction during hospital stays, according to a poster presented at the 2014 American Academy of Pain Medicine annual meeting. Dermot Maher, MD, and his colleagues from Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles examined patient responses on HCAHPS (Hospital…

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By: OR Manager
November 17, 2014
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Colorado ASC reaches out to community with annual free surgery day

Peak One Surgery Center in Frisco, Colorado, had a lucrative day this past October, when surgeons performed 14 procedures on local residents in the following specialties: orthopedics, general surgery, gynecology, pain management, and gastroenterology. Their pay? A mountain of gratitude.   Helping at home Frisco, population 2,683, is located in…

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By: OR Manager
November 17, 2014
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You can't say that: Using social media in the healthcare setting requires sound judgment

It is hard to have tea with a friend or brag about a school soccer victory without involving social media. What was once a private or family matter no longer seems real until it is texted, posted, or even turned into a movie. Healthcare organizations, including ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs),…

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By: OR Manager
November 17, 2014
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