Editor's Note Zimmer Biomet and Apple Inc have begun a multiyear study that will allow surgeons to use Apple Watches to monitor activities, including heart rate, steps taken, and standing hours of up to 100,000 patients before and after hip and knee replacement surgery, the October 15 Reuters reports. Providers…

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Editor's Note The Food & Drug Administration (FDA) on October 17 announced a public workshop to discuss the newly released draft guidance: Content of Premarket Submissions for Management of Cybersecurity in Medical Devices. The need for effective cybersecurity to ensure medical device function and safety has become more important with…

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Editor's Notes Though obese adults often report more postoperative pain, the same was not true for obese children in this study presented October 16 at the Anesthesiology 2018 annual meeting in San Francisco. In this analysis of 808 children who had noncardiac surgery at the Cleveland Clinic, pain was assessed…

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Editor's Note The Joint Commission on October 17 announced that it is seeking public comment on three draft electronic Patient Blood Management (ePBM) performance measures: PBM-01 Preoperative Anemia Screening  PBM-03 Preoperative Blood Type Testing and Antibody Screening  PBM-04 Initial Transfusion Threshold. The Joint Commission is looking at options for using…

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Editor's Note The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on October 16 announced that as part of the Administration’s efforts to strengthen cybersecurity in healthcare, the FDA and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) have agreed to greater coordination and cooperation for addressing cybersecurity in medical devices. Under the agreement, DHS will…

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Editor's Note Despite concerns about addiction and side effects of opioids, patients still expect them to be prescribed and believe them to be the most effective for postoperative pain relief, finds this study presented October 13 at the Anesthesiology 2018 annual meeting in San Francisco. Researchers gave a 13-question survey…

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Editor's Note The Joint Commission and the American Heart Association (AHA) will offer a single cardiovascular (CV) certification program for hospitals beginning January 1, 2019, the Joint Commission announced on October 10. The single certification is designed to enhance CV patient care and improve outcomes and quality of life. It…

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Editor's Note The Perioperative Surgical Home (PSH) model of care was successful in improving quality of care and outcomes in elderly hip fracture patients and children having cardiac surgery in two studies presented October 14 at the Anesthesiology 2018 annual meeting in San Francisco. One study compared 308 hip fracture…

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Editor's Note The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on October 11 released as report showing progress by hospitals in reducing healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). The report shows hospitals reduced: abdominal hysterectomy surgical site infections (SSIs) by 13% central line-associated bloodstream infections by 11% Clostridium difficile infections by 8% catheter-associated…

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Editor's Note Organizational support initiatives and authentic leadership training for nurse leaders reduced bullying among licensed practical nurses (LPNs) in this study. A survey was sent to a random sample of 855 LPNs that was drawn from a total of 4,306 in a Midwestern state; 168 usable questionnaires were returned…

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