Editor's Note To overcome communication challenges in the OR such as excessive noise, congestion, and universal masking that impair verbal and nonverbal communication, one expert recommended real-time captioning technology be used, according to an advanced publication article published in the February 2026 issue of The American Journal of Surgery. In…
Editor's Note Ketamine tested for pain relief in a large, placebo-controlled, randomized trial posed side effects and did not support patient recovery after major surgery, according to findings published in the British Journal of Anesthesia and discussed in a December 3 news story from Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Ketamine has…
Editor's Note Cataract surgery remains among the most frequent surgeries at a rate of 26 million procedures each year globally, and surgical robotics could soon be used to support these procedures. Recently a robotic surgical system for cataract surgeries developed by UCLA engineers and physicians was used to complete the…
Editor's Note A prospective, multi-center randomized trial comparing opioid use and patient reported outcomes following isolated partial meniscectomy with needle versus standard arthroscopy resulted in less postoperative pain and opioid use, according to a February 2026 article published ahead of print in the Journal of Orthopedics. The trial was designed…
Editor's Note While artificial intelligence (AI) has moved rapidly into clinical application, decisions around setting rules and requirements for responsible AI use are evolving more slowly. This could pose challenges for hospitals where resources are already limited, especially for smaller hospitals. Without a unified system for evaluating AI products, hospitals…
Editor's Name Over 80% of surgeons suffer work-related injury or illness due to poor ergonomics in the OR. By spending long hours in static positions performing repetitive, highly precise tasks over many years, musculoskeletal pain involving the neck, back, shoulders, and arms is an unfortunate reality that can influence early…
Editor's Note Perioperative nurses play an essential role in patient safety and surgical efficiency. But how exactly? Findings from a qualitative study published in the December issue of AORN Journal breaks down how perioperative nurses navigate decisions in high-pressure environments. This study involved semi-structured interviews with 11 perioperative nurses working…
Editor's Note A recent report on patient harm events by number and type from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Inspector General (OIG) was explored in a December 2 article in HealthAffairs. The OIG reviewed medical records of 770 hospitalized Medicare patients who were discharged in…
Editor's Note Language access should be considered more than a patient experience issue because it’s also required for safety and accreditation, according to a December 2 story in Becker’s Hospital Review. One example is Joint Commission’s new National Performance Goals that take effect in January 2026, specifically NPGs 4 and…
Editor's Note A new collaborative initiative called the Healthcare Infection Prevention Advisory Group (HIPAG) has been created by the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) and the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA). It will address infection prevention priorities of national importance, according to a December…
