Editor's Note United Surgical Partners International Inc. has agreed to pay $1.48 million to settle a proposed class action alleging its 401(k) plan charged excessive fees and included costly investment options, according to a motion filed in Texas federal court, Law360 January 6 reports. The settlement resolves a lawsuit brought…

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Editor's Note UC San Diego Health plans to pilot artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled camera systems to enhance patient safety, addressing risks like falls and bedsores, but leaders are also acknowledging challenges related to patient consent, compliance, and privacy. The San Diego Union-Tribune reported the news January 5. According to the article,…

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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…

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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…

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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,…

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“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.”…

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Perioperative leaders are entering a time of uncertainty after 2024 proved to be transformative for inpatient and outpatient surgical care. Last year saw important updates from The Joint Commission and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) that emphasized improvements alongside ongoing challenges in safety, workforce shortages, reimbursement, and…

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Editor's Note Although the term “value-based care” dates back nearly two decades, payer reimbursement models too often seem more like volume-based care. In a presentation at the upcoming OR Business Management Conference, scheduled February 10-12 at the Saddlebrook Resort in Tampa, Florida, economist Susanna Gallani, PhD, will delve into how…

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Editor's Note Findings from The ARRC II study show using advanced recovery room care (ARRC) for medium-risk surgical patients significantly reduces 18-month postoperative mortality compared to standard ward care. As detailed in a December 11 research letter in JAMA Surgery, this benefit appears linked to minimizing early postoperative complications, which…

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Editor's Note With 2024 concluded, orthopedic surgeons and surgical leaders are poised to leverage new technologies while addressing challenges in autonomy and value-based care in 2025, Healio December 17 reports. Ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) have proven critical in providing cost-effective, patient-centered care, the author noted, highlighting that physician-led ASCs showcase…

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