Editor's Note As the Republican National Convention meets in Milwaukee to nominate Donald Trump, the party is not expected to unveil a detailed healthcare platform. However, a July 15 report in Modern Healthcare covers what plans and past records reveal about the potential direction of health policy under a GOP…

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Editor's Note The 2024 OR Manager Conference Poster Gallery provides a forum for presenting completed research, in progress initiatives with preliminary results, or a new approach to a concept to solve a problem related to perioperative leadership. We strive to promote communication and collaborative research among nurses, provide a setting…

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Editor's Note The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has classified recalls by Hamilton Medical and Megadyne as Class 1 events, the most severe category indicating risk of serious injury or death. According to the agency’s July 11 report, Hamilton Medical is correcting software for its HAMILTON-C6 Medical Ventilator to…

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Editor's Note Hospital groups are criticizing CMS' proposed 2.6% pay increase for 2025, deeming it insufficient for nonprofit hospitals with operating margins near or below zero, according to a July 11 article in Becker’s Hospital CFO Report. The American Hospital Association and America's Essential Hospitals argue the rise won't cover…

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Editor's Note Researchers recently observed an unprecedented behavior in Florida carpenter ants (Camponotus floridanus): Unlike most ant species that treat injured limbs with antimicrobial substances, these ants perform amputation by biting off the injured limb. The journal Science reported the news July 2. Multiple experiments confirmed the amputation behavior, Science…

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Editor's Note Electricity outages caused by Hurricane Beryl in Houston and southeast Texas forced healthcare providers to hold discharged patients longer because their homes lacked power, the Texas Tribune reported July 10. Several hospitals had difficulties accommodating new patients, leading to delayed discharges, ambulance shortages, and a backup in 911…

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Editor's Note On July 10, CMS proposed Medicare payment rates for hospital outpatient and ambulatory surgery center (ASC) services for 2025.  Published annually, the Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) and ASC Payment System Proposed Rule will have a 60-day comment period, which this year ends September 9 prior to…

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Editor's Note A manufacturing defect in a critical component of an upper airway stimulation (UAS) system and coils prone to overheating during magnetic resonance imaging scans (MRIs) prompted The US Food & Drug administration to issue two Class 1 recalls June 8. Class 1 is the most severe category, indicating…

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Editor's Note Inspired by a leader in the postanesthesia care department (PACU)? Here’s a chance to provide well-deserved recognition from the entire perioperative community. If you’re a member of the American Board of Perianesthesia Nursing Certification, Inc. (ABPANC), we have something for you as well: exclusive discounts to attend OR…

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Editor's Note UnitedHealth Group acquired dozens of outpatient facilities, particularly surgery centers, in 2023, often without public announcements, STAT March 11 reports. This builds on their network of about 90,000 physicians. Many new centers are in areas where UnitedHealth dominates the Medicare Advantage market. A major acquisition was National Cardiovascular…

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