The highest priority of any health care provider is to ensure patient safety. The single most important tool for preventing errors is the ability to communicate. According to the Joint Commission, the number one cause of sentinel events is a breakdown in communication among the surgical team, patient, and family.…
A solid orientation is a cornerstone for successful perioperative nursing. Choosing the right candidates and giving them the knowledge and skills to adapt to the surgical environment are essential to safe practice and to retaining staff. The learning curve for perioperative nursing is steeper than ever— 83% of hospitals are…
A workshop using real clinical narratives helps nurse managers learn about lateral violence at a community hospital in the Northeast. The hospital has also adopted a policy on lateral violence, which is in the early stages of implementation. Donna DeRobbio, RN, MSN, collected the narratives as part of a research…
The power of teams and a culture of collaboration were themes at the Managing Today's OR Suite conference Oct 3 to 5 in San Diego. The conference attracted 726 attendees for the 2-day conference and 390 for the pre-conference seminars. They visited an exhibit featuring 88 companies. Match peoples' talents…
A nurse hides a surgeon's favorite instrument when a substitute fills in as the scrub. A circulator does not tell a new nurse who is scrubbed that she knows the shunt the surgeon selected has fallen on the floor. A newly hired RN who was previously a scrub tech is…
How do you know a nurse is a good fit for the OR—even if the person doesn't have OR experience? There's a body of research that shows that the better the fit between an organization and an employee, the longer the person is likely to stay. Managers often say they…
Writing to Congress To comment on S 2221, the Transparency in Medical Device Pricing Act of 2007, you can send an e-mail through your Congress member's website. Senators are listed at www.senate.gov. House members are at www.house.gov. To download the bill and check its status, enter the bill number at…
Getting the right case in the right room at the right time is the goal for every OR director. Often, though, defining how well the OR suite runs depends on whom you ask. The question, "Are my ORs efficient?" could be could be answered with a qualitative approach by administering…
Surgical count discrepancies occur surprisingly often, in about 1 in 8 general surgery cases in a new study. The counts took an average of 13 minutes to resolve. In 60% of cases, the discrepancy was a misplaced item, such as a sponge on the floor or in the trash. The…
The temporary staffing agency you use for your ASC assures you it conducts thorough background checks. You decide to hire the accounts receivable clerk sent from the agency. Your prehire background check reveals the clerk spent time in prison for embezzlement. You escort the clerk out the door. Most managers…
For 2008, ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) generally will be paid at 65% of hospital outpatient department (HOPD) payments, under a final rule issued Nov 1 by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). The rule, effective Jan 1, 2008, sets rates for the first year of the new ASC…
Presentation on the scientific evidence surrounding the bi-directional penetration of pathogens through OR table drapes.
Objectives:
Meet the Speaker:
Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) transformed its perioperative operations by implementing AI-driven staffing solutions to address critical challenges across 53 operating rooms. This initiative replaced manual, reactive processes with data-driven approaches that revolutionized how perioperative teams are deployed.
OHSU faced significant operational challenges, including time-consuming manual processes, limited visibility into staff experience, and difficulty optimizing team compositions. With innovative staffing technology, OHSU achieved remarkable improvements:
Key Takeaways:
Join us to hear directly from OHSU leadership about their journey, implementation strategies, and the measurable impact on perioperative services. Discover how these solutions can transform your healthcare operations while improving both staff and surgeon satisfaction.
Meet the Speakers:
The purpose of this webinar is to show how data can be used for both negotiating with commercial payers and with equipment vendors. We will have representatives from PayrHealth provide an overview of the reimbursement transparency data reports they have available for providers and how they can be utilized when negotiating with commercial payers. We will also have staff from the Johnson & Johnson MedTech Sourceview team to showcase their database and how it can be used by providers for negotiating with their MedTech vendors.
Meet the speakers:
Join Phyllis S. Quinlan, PhD, RN, NPD-BC, President/CEO of MFW Consultants to Professionals, as she shares her insights on one of the more pressing challenges for leaders in the 21st Century: managing change in the face of persistent uncertainty. Today’s leaders must adopt an agile, flexible mindset to be prepared to address the ever-changing events in today’s world. Change management is an essential skill for any leader in healthcare. However, how do you support a change-weary staff as they try to respond to the need to adjust their practice and modify systems without creating cynicism and weakening morale? This session will provide a frank discussion and present practical approaches to building staff fortitude in an unpredictable, ever-changing industry.
When: Wednesday, August 27, 12:00pm ET
Learning Objectives:
Meet the Speaker:
Dr. Phyllis Quinlan, PhD, RN, NPD-BC is President of MFW Consultants & a successful nurse entrepreneur. She is a healthcare consultant and has practiced as a Legal Nurse Consultant specializing in defense since 2004. During her nursing career, Phyllis has held positions in clinical, education & administrative positions in a variety of practice venues.
She is a Certified Professional Coach by the International Coaching Federation and is a Fellow of the Institute of Coaching. Phyllis uses the tools of emotional intelligence, applied positive psychology, and character strength building when working with her clients.
In 2023, an expert group was established to develop clear guidance on surgical gloving practice from the existing literature. Their goal was to formulate recommendations to improve the safety, protection, and experience of healthcare providers and their patients. The expert panel members were assigned to one of four focus areas: Glove Fit, Double Gloving, Indicator Systems, and Glove Damage and Change Protocol; with each group conducting a systematic review of the evidence.
The 2025 Edition of the AORN Guidelines for Perioperative Practice emphasizes the importance of providing a climate of safety with evidence-based practices. Surgical gloves play a crucial role in ensuring the safety of both patients and practitioners. Efforts continue to establish standardized best gloving practices, supported by evidenced-based recommendations. These standardized guidelines aim to enhance clinical outcomes, improve safety, and support hand health and career longevity.
This program will provide the attendee with an overview of how these two bodies of practice align with current recommendations for practice guidelines on surgical gloving.
Speakers:
Chad Flora BSN, RN, CNOR, is a Clinical Director for the Surgical Glove Business Area at Mölnlycke Health Care. In addition to leading the U.S. Clinical Specialist Team, his responsibilities include clinical education, program development, and assisting with research and development initiatives.
Leah Goldberg MSN, RN, CNOR is the Clinical Nurse OR, Bone and Joint Institute at Hartford Hospital. She works in the operating room at the Bone and Joint Institute at Hartford Hospital and created Acorn Nurse Consulting, LLC to continue her passion for developing knowledge and resources for perioperative staff. She was honored as an AORN Emerging Leader Under 40 in 2012 and 2024. She received AORN’s Outstanding Achievement in Perioperative Education: Clinical Award in 2025.
“What’s our cost per case?”
“Can Dr. Smith’s office take our open time this week?”
“Can you update all our preference cards today?”
If you’re having trouble answering these questions, don’t miss this webinar. Using digital preference cards and OR scheduling tools, you’ll see how more accessible data can empower your team.
In this session, surgical business managers will discover strategies for reducing costs per case, optimizing labor utilization, and keeping ORs from idling. Nurses will discover time-saving strategies for preference card management and room turnover.
With real-world insights from the OR, viewers will leave with actionable solutions to streamline processes and drive measurable improvements in their surgical department.
Speakers:
Aileen R. Killen, RN, PhD, CPPS is the Director, Perioperative Excellence at LiveData. In her role, she collaborates with LiveData on strategies for adoption and utilization of PeriOp Manager, a surgical workflow solution. In addition to holding perioperative leadership positions in some of the country’s leading medical facilities, including New York University Medical Center, The Hospital for Special Surgery, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Aileen was also heavily involved in the patient safety arena as an AHA-NPSF Patient Safety Leadership Fellow, where she focused on designing operating rooms for patient and staff safety. In 2014, she was appointed as Global Head of Healthcare Consulting at AIG, where she established AIG as a safety thought leader across the global healthcare industry. Aileen earned a diploma in nursing from Sacred Heart Hospital School of Nursing and a BSN from DeSales University, both in Allentown, Pennsylvania. She holds an MS in Nursing from the University of Maryland in Baltimore, a Master of Science in Health Policy and Management from New York University, and a PhD from Boston College School of Nursing.
Ethan Nobbs is the CEO of PREFcards LLC., a leading SaaS health tech company dedicated to transforming healthcare operations through innovative technology solutions. With a Bachelor’s degree from Brigham Young University, Ethan brings over 20 years of progressive leadership experience in operations management across diverse business environments.
Throughout their career, Ethan has built and led high-performance teams, delivering results in P&L management, marketing, business development, operations, and supply chain. This diverse experience has enabled him to navigate the complexities of the healthcare industry and lead PREFcards with the goal to empower healthcare organizations with cutting-edge solutions that streamline OR workflows, enhance efficiency, and drive measurable impact.