Pinpoint accuracy in surgical technique has advanced beyond what many ever thought possible. Unfortunately, such refinements have been slower to reach the perioperative business front. OR leaders often rely on vague metrics and educated guesses to guide their teams. Ambient artificial intelligence (AI) is changing that. When integrated with data…

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Editor's Note Advocacy begins where safety meets purpose. That was the resounding message from UF Health Shands’ Michele Brunges, MSN, RN, CNOR, CHSE, director of surgical services; Katherine Hayes, BSN, RN, CNOR-CARD, nursing professional development specialist for perioperative services; and Kristy Perry, MSN, RN, CNOR, clinical coordinator of the north…

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Editor's Note Hold everyone to the same standard, model the behavior you expect, and build trust through transparency—that is how OR leaders retain nurses and improve performance, according to this session’s panel that included Taneka Curtis, MHA, BSN, RN, CNOR, nurse manager-cardiac, transplant and vascular service lines, Hospital of the…

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Editor's Note Burnout does not begin with exhaustion, but with misalignment, said burn and critical care surgeon Neha Amin, DO, FACS, NBC-HWC, founder of Balance and Breakthrough and Renewal Wound Care Centers based outside Atlanta, during her personal and pragmatic keynote. According to Dr Amin, burnout follows a clear trajectory—from…

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Editor's Note Transparent communication, humility, and swift action are essential for effective service recovery in perioperative services, said Leiran Cornish, MBA-HM, BSN, RN, director of nursing, Dartmouth Health Outpatient Surgery Center, and Patrel Nobles, MSN, RN, NE-BC, CNOR,  system senior director, surgical services, Valley Health. Their session explored how nurse…

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Editor's Note Rebuilding trust and redefining teamwork between the OR and sterile processing department (SPD) turned a near-failure into a high-functioning system at UCLA Health, according to Ronald Perez, JD, MSN, RN, NEA-BC, CNOR, executive director of perioperative services, and Jasmine Briones, MSN, RN, CNOR, director of perioperative services. What…

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Editor's Note Lead your OR like a samurai—anchor the team in purpose, practice servant leadership, and model the behavior you expect. That was the through line of this session, led by Brian Dawson, MSN, RN-BC, CNOR, CAPT, NC, USN (Ret), president and CEO of BD Perioperative Healthcare Consulting. He argued…

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Takeaways • Determining the return on investment (ROI) for a robot-assisted surgery (RAS) program should include anticipated surgeon volume and past cases where RAS could have been used. • Some organizations dedicate staff to RAS cases, while others orient all to these procedures. • Offering ROI after hours require careful…

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Editor's Note Hospitals that succeed in surveys are those that “hardwire safety so you’re not ramping up and down,” said John R. Rosing, MHA, FACHE, executive vice president and principal of Patton Healthcare Consulting. Speaking at the OR Manager Conference, Rosing reminded perioperative leaders, “If we’re really about providing quality…

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Artificial intelligence (AI) has made inroads into nearly every area of healthcare. With nursing shortages continuing—marked by the loss of some 100,000 nurses following the COVID-19 pandemic and projected deficits of 20% or more in some states—AI-based tools that improve access to information, streamline efficiency, monitor patients, track procedures, and…

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