Be cognizant, not complacent when using communication tools
Communication tools such as briefings, debriefings, handoffs, and checklists are considered cornerstones of surgical patient safety, but they’re only effective when used correctly. In many ORs, steps may be skipped that later are linked to adverse events that should not have happened. Greater mindfulness and proper implementation of communication tools…
Surgical development teams save millions in clinical costs
Surgeon champions can make or break a perioperative initiative. But it’s not enough to simply identify a single champion. OR leaders must engage a wide range of physicians to improve the organizational structure of the healthcare system. At Intermountain Healthcare, a 22-hospital system based in Salt Lake City, Utah, surgical…
Research shines new light on malignant hyperthermia
The rare but very serious condition of malignant hyperthermia (MH) remains a risk at all surgical facilities, including ambulatory surgical centers (ASCs). MH occurs in about one in 50,000 adults under anesthesia, and one in about 12,000 children, which translates to one or two deaths annually in the United States.…
Healthcare and self-care dovetail as themes at business conference
More than 350 surgical services leaders from across the US gathered at the OR Business Management Conference in Glendale, Arizona, in February to learn strategies for managing both healthcare and self-care. Attendees came away inspired by thought-provoking keynotes and ready to implement ideas sparked by interactive sessions, exhibitors, and their…
ERAS improves outcomes, shortens length of stay
Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) programs are gaining ground with recent data showing that they improve outcomes. The programs consist of multidisciplinary, evidence-based protocols implemented in the perioperative period to provide standardized patient care. Like other changes in healthcare delivery, adopting ERAS programs takes time and effort. Despite positive results…
Editorial
Many new healthcare payment models have cropped up in recent years, all with an eye toward rewarding providers for quality of service. In 2013, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) started a Bundled Payment for Care Improvement (BPCI) pilot with voluntary participation from numerous US facilities. Under BPCI,…
OR Manager Conference keynote makes compelling case for compassion in patient care
Someone who literally owes his life to healthcare workers will share his remarkable experience and inspiration during this year’s annual OR Manager Conference. Marcus Engel, author of The Other End of the Stethoscope and several other books, will be the opening keynote speaker at the conference, which takes place September…
Committee saves over $1 million through cost conscious initiatives
Creating a “Cost Conscious Culture Committee” helped Maine Medical Center (MMC) in Portland shave more than $1.8 million in operating costs from the beginning of 2014 to the end of 2015. Not only that, but during 2015, MMC’s perioperative services leaders were also involved in a $40 million expansion project…
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