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Disruptive innovation in supply chain: Impact of Amazon Business and technology, Part 2

Supply chain is ripe for innovation, as Amazon Business and technology manufacturers have discovered. In part 1 of this two-part series, we focused on the company’s role in the supply chain (OR Manager, February 2019, 1, 9-12). In part 2, we look at technology-related trends and innovations that can improve…

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By: Cynthia Saver, MS, RN
February 20, 2019
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OSA screening boosts patient safety and bottom line

An estimated 22 million people in the US have obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), but up to 80% of cases are undiagnosed, and some 30% to 40% of the surgical population has diagnosed or suspected sleep apnea. More than 3 years ago, the Joint Commission issued a Quick Safety document about…

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By: OR Manager
February 20, 2019
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Editorial

Interest in data analytics, artificial intelligence, technology, and innovation has skyrocketed with rapid advances in systems and devices designed to improve patient care. When it comes to data analytics, asking the right questions is key to finding answers that will enhance efficiency and patient safety, according to David Wyatt, PhD,…

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By: Elizabeth Wood
February 20, 2019
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Surgical transfer unit allows patients to bypass ED

There are few things more disheartening for patients than having to board in the emergency department (ED) for long periods while waiting for a bed. ED boarding can also delay treatment and adds to overcrowding and backups. Erlanger Health System, based in Chattanooga, Tennessee, decided to tackle this problem head…

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By: Catherine Spader, RN
February 20, 2019
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Prioritizing patient safety unites and empowers OR team—Part 1

Communication breakdowns in the perioperative environment are a factor in 70% of events that adversely affect patients. Sometimes those breakdowns occur because OR staff are reluctant to voice their concerns in an environment that is hierarchical and intimidating. However, when an organization adopts patient safety first (PSF) initiatives, adverse outcomes…

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By: Iris Llewellyn
February 20, 2019
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'Noncritical' OR items deserve due diligence in disinfection

Much emphasis has been placed on high-level disinfection over the past several years; however, low- and intermediate-level disinfection are also performed in healthcare facilities and are an important part of an infection prevention program. Noncritical items, defined by the Spaulding Classification as those that may contact intact skin, are cleaned…

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By: Susan Klacik, BS, CRCST, CHL, CIS, ACE, FCS
February 20, 2019
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ASCs react to 2019 regulatory changes

Each year, ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) adapt to numerous federal regulatory policy reforms. As an example, since 2012, when the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) launched the Ambulatory Surgery Center Quality Reporting (ASCQR) Program ASCs had been asking for, ASCs have reported data for a changing set of…

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By: Judith M. Mathias, MA, RN
February 20, 2019
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