Differences in 30-day readmission rates after total hips
Editor's Note Researchers found significant differences in the odds of 30-day readmissions after total hip arthroplasties on the basis of race, socioeconomic status, and payer. African American and Hispanic patients had a higher risk of readmissions than white patients. Lower socioeconomic status was linked to higher odds of readmission. Medicare…
Effect of hospital safety-net burden on surgical costs, outcomes
Editor's Note In this study on the effect of patient and hospital factors on surgical outcomes and costs at safety-net hospitals, researchers found that hospital resources and not necessarily patient factors lead to inferior outcomes and increased costs. Hospital Compare data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services website…
SmartTots updates consensus statement on anesthesia safety in young children
Editor's Note SmartTots on October 13 released an updated “Consensus Statement On the Use of Anesthetic and Sedative Drugs in Infants and Toddlers.” There is growing evidence from animal studies and observational studies in humans suggesting that adverse effects on behavior, learning, and memory may result from exposure to anesthetics…
Same day surgery process for total joints
Editor's Note Thomas King, MD, an orthopedic surgeon at the Knee, Hip & Shoulder Center, Portsmouth, New Hampshire, has developed a process for total knee and hip replacements that allows many patients to leave the same day after surgery. He uses a combination of a minimally invasive technique, regional anesthesia,…
Price increases much lower in ASCs than hospital outpatient departments
Editor's Note For six outpatient surgical procedures, prices paid to ASCs grew in line with general medical prices, whereas prices paid to hospital outpatient departments for the same procedures climbed sharply, this study finds. Private insurers paid ASCs considerably more than Medicare for the same procedures. Medicare pays ASCs a legislated…
Validity of CAUTI metric used for value-based purchasing questioned
Editor's Note Two different measurement systems are used to track performance in lowering the rate of catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs). The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality metric has shown a 28.2% decrease in CAUTIs since 2010, whereas the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s metric has shown a…
Use of data set to assess risk of sharps-related blood and body fluid exposure
Editor's Note In this study from Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, researchers used a unique multicomponent administrative data set to examine the risk of percutaneous blood and body fluid exposures in the OR over a 10-year period. Of some 333,000 surgical procedures performed, 2,113 blood and body fluid exposures were…
OIG warns against using EHRs to block information
Editor's Note An Office of Inspector General (OIG) alert reminds healthcare professionals and hospitals that information blocking in health information technology (IT) is a problem, and steps to prevent interoperability of an electronic health record (EHR) platform or services with other IT systems is not subject to safe harbor protections…
Suicide attempts increase after bariatric surgery
Editor's Note Bariatric surgery patients were at a much higher risk of suicide after surgery than before, in this study. Of 8,815 patients included in the study, 111 had 158 self-harm emergencies during follow-up. Overall, self-harm significantly increased postoperatively (3.63/1,000 patient years) compared with preoperatively (2.33/1,000 patient years). Self-harm emergencies…
Magnet hospitals associated with better patient experience
Editor's Note Magnet recognition is associated with better patient care experiences, which may enhance reimbursement for hospitals, this study finds. Nurse researchers compared 212 Magnet hospitals with 212 non-Magnet hospitals. Patients in Magnet hospitals gave their hospitals higher overall ratings, were more likely to recommend their hospitals, and reported more positive…
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- Low-cost simulation helps surgical trainees practice crisis skills for major hemorrhage
- Nurse leaders weigh in on NCLEX pass rate decline, impact on workforce readiness
- FDA issues early alerts on multiple high-risk device recalls from J&J, Medtronic, Baxter, Boston Scientific
- New UCSF measure shows 1 in 60 cesarean deliveries involve serious surgical complications
- Hospitals can curb costly post-acute discharges with targeted periop programs, study finds
- Sameness in nursing care puts patients at risk
- CMS’s plan to phase out inpatient-only list could bolster rural ASCs
- AAAHC unveils v44 standards to sharpen focus on patient-centered ambulatory care