Editor's Note Autonomous robotic surgery performed by the Smart Tissue Autonomous Robot (STAR) may help healthcare providers improve outcomes and efficiency, while reducing errors, finds this study. STAR integrates a robotic arm, suturing device, and imaging capabilities. Surgeons tested STAR against manual, laparoscopic, and robot-assisted surgery for porcine intestinal anastomoses…
Editor's Note The Joint Commission announced May 11 that it will release additional guidance in June regarding the expectations for text orders. The guidance will include the frequency text orders may be used, whether text orders that are directly integrated into the electronic health record are viewed differently than manually…
Editor's Note In a new study, military surgeons are proposing a new education and training paradigm that will benefit them and their patients in both military and civilian practice environments, the American College of Surgeons reports. Military surgeons face a unique challenge in that they serve as a “jack-of-all trades”…
Editor's Note The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and Joint Commission on July 5 will begin using the 2012 version of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 101 Life Safety Code in their accreditation surveys. The final CMS rule requires hospitals to follow the 2012 version of the…
Editor's Note Washington tops the five best states for nurses based on opportunity, competition, and work environment, according to an annual survey by WalletHub. Illinois is second, followed by Texas, Oregon, and Iowa. The worst spot for nurses was the District of Columbia, just below Louisiana, Hawaii, Alabama, and South…
Our TakeThe American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) announced May 4 that it has been selected by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and Joint Commission for a new project to prevent patients from acquiring healthcare associated infections during outpatient care. The 3-year project referred to as “ADOPT (Adaptation and…
Editor's Note The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on April 29 approved the San Francisco-based Institute for Medical Quality (IMQ) as a national accrediting organization for Ambulatory Surgery Centers (ASCs) that participate in the Medicare or Medicaid programs (known as deemed status), the May ASC Focus reports. IMQ…
Editor's Note An Independent Security Evaluators study of 12 hospitals found that all had vulnerabilites that could lead to patient deaths or harm, according to a May 9 report from WUSA 9. During the study, cybersecurity experts were able to remotely control respirators and patient monitors, trigger false alarms, and…
Editor's Note The Joint Commission on May 9 announced the Pioneers in Quality Advisory Panel, a group of technical experts who will be informing the Joint Commission on the successes and challenges hospitals are experiencing in their adoption and use of electronic clinical quality measures (eCQMs). The panel also will…
Editor's Note This study from Johns Hopkins found a wide variation in hospital price markups for major cardiothroracic and gastrointestinal surgical procedures in the US. Nearly a quarter of the 3,498 hospitals analyzed charged four times more than the actual cost of hospitalization for the procedures. Perioperative morbidity was greater…
