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December 2018 See the full issue

Munro Scale assessment helps reduce HAPI rates

Each year, more than 2.5 million adults in the US develop pressure ulcers, according to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). These lesions bring pain, risk for serious infection, and increased healthcare utilization. Data on the costs of treatment vary, but some estimates range between $37,800 and $70,000…

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By: Judith M. Mathias, MA, RN
November 14, 2018
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Block schedule best practices: Calculate, allocate, and regulate

A common strategy for managing OR utilization is block scheduling: Assigning surgical time to individual surgeons or surgeon groups based on their volume. But what sounds like a simple process is often complicated by the potential for dissatisfaction and reduced utilization. Yet done effectively, block scheduling can significantly boost the…

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By: Cynthia Saver, MS, RN
November 14, 2018
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Editorial

Polls leading up to the midterm elections put healthcare as the top issue of concern among likely voters, with gun policy, Supreme Court nominees, the economy and jobs, and education right behind it. In a year fraught with an ever-widening chasm along party lines, there were distinctly different priorities among…

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By: Elizabeth Wood
November 14, 2018
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New safety program helps hospitals adopt ERAS

Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) led the list of newer patient care models in use at hospitals that employ respondents to the 2018 OR Manager Salary/Career Survey. A total of 42% of hospital-based OR leaders said ERAS had been or would soon be implemented in their facilities, down slightly from…

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By: Elizabeth Wood
November 14, 2018
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2019 OR Business Management Conference sets up shop in San Diego

Interest in the OR Business Management Conference has grown steadily in tandem with the number of proposals submitted each year. More than 400 individuals attended the conference in 2018, and they left with tools and strategies to implement in a variety of clinical settings upon their return. Feedback from attendees…

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By: Elizabeth Wood
November 14, 2018
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Room utilization rises with dynamic block scheduling

Inefficiencies in surgical case scheduling can lead to large revenue losses. When leaders at Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center (SHMC) in Spokane, Washington, realized poor room utilization was the cause of more than $1 million in annual overtime costs, they knew that better planning was needed. “For every 60 minutes…

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By: Cynthia Saver, MS, RN
November 14, 2018
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Research backs changes to AORN's Guideline for Sterilization

AORN’s updated Guideline for Sterilization is based on a recent review of evidence in peer-reviewed journals and regulations from 2012 to 2017. In addition to guidance for sterilizing reusable medical devices to be used in perioperative and procedural settings, the updated guideline points to findings that substantiate current practices, and…

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By: Susan Klacik, BS, CRCST, CHL, CIS, ACE, FCS
November 14, 2018
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Top 10 health technology hazards for 2019 named

The devices and systems we use when diagnosing and treating patients are invaluable to patient care—but they are not perfect. Patients and staff can be harmed if design flaws or system faults aren’t identified and rectified, equipment isn’t adequately maintained or prepared for use, or proper procedures aren’t followed. Preventing…

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By: ECRI
November 14, 2018
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Advise and collect: Helping patients pay for surgery

Long gone are the days when employer-based health insurance covered most, if not all, of patients’ healthcare bills. Insurance companies and employers expect individuals to pay a larger chunk of healthcare costs themselves. The 2018 benchmark Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) Employer Health Benefits Survey found that “a quarter (26%) of…

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By: Janet M. Boivin, BSN, BSJ, RN
November 14, 2018
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