Leadership 
A wave of policy and regulatory changes is shaking up the healthcare industry—among many other markets. Like the COVID-19 pandemic greatly sped up the proliferation of ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) by bringing traditional hospital operations to a standstill, ASCs are again on the poise of another boom. Medical innovation abounds…
Certain perioperative leaders stand out for their ability to inspire teams, drive innovation, and maintain excellence in patient care. Amid continued staffing shortages, technological change, and evolving patient needs, the recipients of the 2024 OR Manager Awards exemplify all these qualities and more. Nominated by their peers and recognized in…
Perioperative leaders navigate some of the most challenging dynamics in healthcare. The precision required in the OR coupled with multidisciplinary teams and diverse personalities often lead to missteps or misunderstandings that can quickly brew into conflict. Effective communication is essential, particularly when addressing behavior, managing team dynamics, or delivering difficult…
The idea that “you can take the nurse out of the OR, but you can’t take the OR out of the nurse” is not new. And yet, a recent panel discussion among emerging nurse leaders indicates this old adage rings truer today than ever. Speaking at the 2024 OR Manager…
It is with great pleasure that we welcome you to the 2025 OR Business Management Conference, taking place from February 10 to 12 at the Saddlebrook Resort in Tampa, Florida. We hope you will make the most of this premier event, which is dedicated to equipping perioperative business leaders with…
Takeaways • Although the central tenets of value-based healthcare have not changed, in many cases implementation has been reduced to little more than reducing costs, to the detriment of clinicians and patients. • The right incentives, such as recognition and work support, can effectively inspire clinicians to deliver high value…
Takeaways • Visual management (VM) tools support Lean efforts, leading to improved quality and efficiency. • VM boards provide an overview of processes, facilitate problem solving, and promote staff-manager collaboration. • Other VM tools such as color coding and customized instrument trays can help reduce errors and save money. Lean…
What happens when a surgeon uses the monopolar instrument set on 30-W coagulation mode to create an upper midline incision in a patient with a pacemaker? Pacemaker function is interrupted, causing a heart block that results in hemodynamic instability—or at least, this is what could happen without taking the necessary…
Takeaways • Requirements for improvement and condition level deficiency findings have been trending up in recent The Joint Commission surveys. • The scoring trends and OR hot spots focus on infection control, medication management, national patient safety goals, post-surgical electronic health record tracers, and transplant (tissue) safety. • Federal regulations,…
“Surgeons are the only people trained to provide surgery—life-saving care," says Carrie Zlatos, chief of legislative and political affairs at the American College of Surgeons (ACS). "They are an essential element of a community-based healthcare system. Regardless of where you live, everyone should have access to full quality surgical care.”…
