Healthcare employment up in November
Editor's Note
Overall healthcare employment in the US was up in November to a seasonally adjusted 16,623,800 workers, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported on December 2. That’s up 44,700 since October.
Hospital employment also was up by 11,000 jobs. The overall unemployment rate for November was 3.7%, for a total of 6.01 million unemployed people.
Free Daily News
- HFMA warns affordability crisis is driving up provider bad debt
- Report warns sterile processing staffing crisis threatens surgical safety
- Ascension swings to profit as outpatient push, cost cuts take hold
- High BMI alone did not raise early complication risk after outpatient TJA
- AAAHC report spotlights top accreditation deficiencies, strategies for safer ambulatory care
- ACS conference charts bold future for surgical quality with data, teamwork, frontline innovation
- Surgical leaders urged to weigh risks, rewards of innovation with a critical eye
- Health systems report dramatic nurse retention gains through residency, development programs
- Surgical innovation redefines what is possible for advanced colorectal cancer
- CMS proposal to end inpatient only list draws strong industry response
- Understand how documentation gaps in the OR affect patient care, staff workload, and financial outcomes.
- Spot the most common issues with bill-only workflows and item master data that create delays and added costs.
- Walk away with practical ideas and best practices to improve accuracy, reduce disputes, and keep care first.
When: Tuesday, November 18 at 12:00 PM ET
Presentation on the scientific evidence surrounding the bi-directional penetration of pathogens through OR table drapes.
Objectives:
- Understand the risk of bi-directional pathogen transfer.
- Gain awareness of how pathogens can move through OR table drapes and the potential implications for patient and staff safety.
- Recognize the value of evidence-based practices.
- Learn why reviewing the latest scientific research on drape performance is critical for informed decision-making in the OR.
- Identify opportunities to strengthen infection prevention strategies.
- Discover how selecting and using the right OR table drapes can help reduce infection risks and improve surgical outcomes.
Meet the Speaker:
Robert Garcia, Infection Prevention Consultant
Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) transformed its perioperative operations by implementing AI-driven staffing solutions to address critical challenges across 53 operating rooms. This initiative replaced manual, reactive processes with data-driven approaches that revolutionized how perioperative teams are deployed.
OHSU faced significant operational challenges, including time-consuming manual processes, limited visibility into staff experience, and difficulty optimizing team compositions. With innovative staffing technology, OHSU achieved remarkable improvements:
- 25+ hours saved weekly in staffing coordination, redirected to patient care
- 5% improvement in staffed room utilization
- 30% improvement in cross-training opportunities, enhancing care team consistency
Key Takeaways:
- AI-powered solutions transform staffing efficiency and redirect valuable time to patient care
- Data-driven approaches improve team consistency and operational performance
- Predictive analytics enable proactive staffing decisions, reducing last-minute changes
- A single source of truth for staff experience improves assignment accuracy
- Technology supports capacity growth without requiring additional resources
Join us to hear directly from OHSU leadership about their journey, implementation strategies, and the measurable impact on perioperative services. Discover how these solutions can transform your healthcare operations while improving both staff and surgeon satisfaction.
Meet the Speakers:
Dio Sumagaysay, RN, MS, Vice President, Perioperative & Multi-specialty Procedural Services, OHSU
Kristen Lund, RN, Director of OR/MSPU Scheduling & Pre-Operative Medicine Clinic, OHSU
Rayna Tuski, Director of Adult Perioperative Services, OHSU
Shane Stubbs, Senior Manager, Client Success, LeanTaaS
The purpose of this webinar is to show how data can be used for both negotiating with commercial payers and with equipment vendors. We will have representatives from PayrHealth provide an overview of the reimbursement transparency data reports they have available for providers and how they can be utilized when negotiating with commercial payers. We will also have staff from the Johnson & Johnson MedTech Sourceview team to showcase their database and how it can be used by providers for negotiating with their MedTech vendors.
Meet the speakers:
Eric Walker, Associate Director Health Economics and Market Analysis, Johnson & Johnson MedTech
Scott Dewey, Chief Managed Care Officer, PayrHealth
Scott Bednarke, Senior Manager, Strategic Account Conversions, Johnson & Johnson
Jackie Wright, C-Suite Level Leader, Large for-profit National Organization
Join Phyllis S. Quinlan, PhD, RN, NPD-BC, President/CEO of MFW Consultants to Professionals, as she shares her insights on one of the more pressing challenges for leaders in the 21st Century: managing change in the face of persistent uncertainty. Today’s leaders must adopt an agile, flexible mindset to be prepared to address the ever-changing events in today’s world. Change management is an essential skill for any leader in healthcare. However, how do you support a change-weary staff as they try to respond to the need to adjust their practice and modify systems without creating cynicism and weakening morale? This session will provide a frank discussion and present practical approaches to building staff fortitude in an unpredictable, ever-changing industry.
When: Wednesday, August 27, 12:00pm ET
Learning Objectives:
- Recognize the importance of understanding the effects of persistent uncertainty and its impact on your staff.
- Explain why today’s leader needs to adopt a Pioneer Spirit.
- Construct an outline that features the elements of effective, sustainable Change Management
Meet the Speaker:
Dr. Phyllis Quinlan, PhD, RN, NPD-BC is President of MFW Consultants & a successful nurse entrepreneur. She is a healthcare consultant and has practiced as a Legal Nurse Consultant specializing in defense since 2004. During her nursing career, Phyllis has held positions in clinical, education & administrative positions in a variety of practice venues.
She is a Certified Professional Coach by the International Coaching Federation and is a Fellow of the Institute of Coaching. Phyllis uses the tools of emotional intelligence, applied positive psychology, and character strength building when working with her clients.
In 2023, an expert group was established to develop clear guidance on surgical gloving practice from the existing literature. Their goal was to formulate recommendations to improve the safety, protection, and experience of healthcare providers and their patients. The expert panel members were assigned to one of four focus areas: Glove Fit, Double Gloving, Indicator Systems, and Glove Damage and Change Protocol; with each group conducting a systematic review of the evidence.
The 2025 Edition of the AORN Guidelines for Perioperative Practice emphasizes the importance of providing a climate of safety with evidence-based practices. Surgical gloves play a crucial role in ensuring the safety of both patients and practitioners. Efforts continue to establish standardized best gloving practices, supported by evidenced-based recommendations. These standardized guidelines aim to enhance clinical outcomes, improve safety, and support hand health and career longevity.
This program will provide the attendee with an overview of how these two bodies of practice align with current recommendations for practice guidelines on surgical gloving.
- Discuss the need for a consensus document centered on surgical gloving practices.
- Describe how appropriate and timely glove changes provide safety for patients and clinicians.
- Explore options when implementing glove recommendation changes into current practices.
Speakers:
Chad Flora BSN, RN, CNOR, is a Clinical Director for the Surgical Glove Business Area at Mölnlycke Health Care. In addition to leading the U.S. Clinical Specialist Team, his responsibilities include clinical education, program development, and assisting with research and development initiatives.
Leah Goldberg MSN, RN, CNOR is the Clinical Nurse OR, Bone and Joint Institute at Hartford Hospital. She works in the operating room at the Bone and Joint Institute at Hartford Hospital and created Acorn Nurse Consulting, LLC to continue her passion for developing knowledge and resources for perioperative staff. She was honored as an AORN Emerging Leader Under 40 in 2012 and 2024. She received AORN’s Outstanding Achievement in Perioperative Education: Clinical Award in 2025.