Perioperative Leadership
Major study clarifies risks, severity of perioperative pulmonary aspiration
Editor's Note Preliminary results from a nearly million-case review reveal that perioperative pulmonary aspiration, while feared, is rare but potentially deadly. According to a February 4 Anesthesiology News report, researchers found an overall incidence of 1 in 5,572 anesthesia cases, with aspiration-related mortality at about 1 in 67,000. As detailed…
Study: Travel, staff nurses perceive workplaces similarly
Editor's Note Travel nurses and permanent staff nurses share similar perceptions of their work environments and ethical workplace climates, according to a study published in the Journal of Nursing Administration. The results challenge common assumptions about differences between these two groups and emphasize the need for nurse leaders to facilitate…
Two ASC employees charged after interfering with ICE arrest in viral incident
Editor's Note Two workers at an ambulatory surgery center (ASC) are facing federal charges after allegedly interfering with an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrest, The Independent July 27 reports. The federal agents reportedly arrested one of the workers and are pursuing the other after both were accused of assaulting…
Translating MIPS Value Pathways into perioperative practice—What OR leaders need to know
In July 2025, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) proposed sweeping changes to the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule for calendar year 2026. Among the most impactful updates is the launch of the Ambulatory Specialty Model (ASM)—a mandatory value-based payment program focused on heart failure and low back pain.…
5 reasons why ASC leaders deserve to be at the 2025 OR Manager Conference
Running an ambulatory surgery center (ASC) is not for the faint of heart. ASC leaders are navigating tight margins, stricter-than-ever quality reporting, lean staffing resources, payer squeeze, and a relentless push to be profitable without proper support. And yet, the ASC market is booming. The number of Medicare-certified ASCs has…
Nurse-led safety forums strengthen escalation of care protocols
Editor's Note A recent article from Cleveland Clinic details the use of confidential staff forums to address barriers to escalating patient care concerns, resulting in greater caregiver engagement and targeted improvements. Published July 25, the article describes how nursing leaders collaborated with the Cleveland Clinic Alliance for Patient and Caregiver…
July poll results: Perioperative leaders are tackling labor costs, staffing flexibility
Perioperative leaders often have to make critical decisions, not just in the middle of an operational crisis but also somewhere in the edges—the routine but still high-stakes moments where leaders need to adjust resources or absorb costs under tight constraints. The economic margin for error continues to narrow, and many…
Key tactics for OR emergency readiness: Supply audits, team drills
Editor’s Note: This page is a companion piece to the main article, Emergency preparedness: Identifying essential supplies for unplanned surgical events. While the main article outlines the principles of emergency readiness and supply preparation in the OR, the posts below offer a closer look at two key implementation areas: Supply…
For-profit health systems ramp up ASC expansion to offset tax law cuts
Editor's Note Major for-profit health systems are accelerating investments in ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) as they brace for long-term revenue reductions under the federal “One Big Beautiful Bill” tax law. Systems including HCA Healthcare, Tenet Healthcare, Community Health Systems (CHS), and Universal Health Services (UHS) outlined aggressive ASC growth strategies…
Consistent staff engagement helps ASCs prevent lawsuits, spot deeper issues early
Editor's Note Regular check-ins and visible leadership can help ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) head off legal trouble before it starts. That is the central message from employment attorney Salvatore Puccio on a recent episode of the Advancing Surgical Care Podcast, Ambulatory Surgery Center News July 23 reports. Puccio, a partner…
Free Daily News
- California’s worsening nurse shortage fuels burnout, safety concerns amid management tensions
- AI is turning medical devices into learning systems, Google Cloud exec says
- Tray-based setups cut OR waste, setup time while boosting workflow satisfaction
- OR Manager Conference delivers ready-to-use solutions for perioperative leaders
- The Joint Commission set to spotlight hospitals’ strengths with new SAFEST initiative
- FDA has begun requiring electronic De Novo submissions for new medical devices
- Spine surgeon shortage deepens as consolidation, site shifts reshape ASC markets
- Study: Outpatient surgery costs hinge on site of care, network status
- Private equity is reshaping ASCs, raising cost and antitrust concerns
- CDC shifts COVID-19 vaccination to individual decision-making, separates chickenpox shot for toddlers