Strong culture sustains healthcare staff in 'good and bad' times
Traditional patient care challenges have risen to a whole new level in the wake of COVID-19. Healthcare providers have assumed new roles and performed tasks they never imagined doing. With conditions and expectations changing daily if not hourly, one thing that hasn’t changed is the need to provide safe patient…
Using algorithms to contain surgical smoke and aerosolized particulates
The hazards of surgical smoke are well documented. As far back as 2004, AORN began publishing guidelines to reduce exposure to surgical smoke and aerosolized particles during operative and invasive procedures. These guidelines can also be adopted to help protect COVID-19 patients and frontline healthcare staff who are exposed to…
Triaging OR capacity amid COVID-19: Lessons from the field
Health systems nationwide are examining policies and procedures related to their resources, staffing, and scheduling to prepare for anticipated patient surges due to COVID-19. In late March, I talked with perioperative physicians and administrators from two health systems with rapid increases in COVID-positive cases, which have prompted significant changes in…
Developing a COVID-19 Recovery Plan for surgical services
When the coronavirus pandemic begins to subside, hospital leaders will be sorting out the repercussions and trying to resume normal operations. The main impact on ORs has been the widespread cancellation of non-essential procedures. Case cancellations in March and April have reduced elective procedure volumes as much as 90%. Most…
Is professionalism a priority in your OR?
Professionalism may not be a concept OR leaders consciously think about, but they should. As role models for their staffs, they set the behavior standards for the OR, and failure to insist on professionalism can be damaging. Professionalism is not defined simply by dress or presentation, says David A. Wyatt,…
OR business leaders anticipate growth and opportunities in 2020
Planning for volume growth and adopting best business practices for the perioperative environment were overarching themes at the 2020 OR Business Management Conference (ORBMC) in late January. Leading healthcare industry clinicians and experts offered fresh insights into competing in the burgeoning outpatient surgery market and persuading stakeholders to switch to…
Editorial
April OR Manager draws on some of the content presented at the 2020 OR Business Management Conference in January and the 2019 OR Manager Conference, which took place last September. OR Business Management Conference attendees start each year with a look at the latest technology, reimbursement models, and emerging trends…
Don't fall victim to data breaches in your OR
Data breaches in the healthcare setting are on the rise, according to recent federal statistics. In November 2019, the US Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Office of Civil Rights reported that 29 data breaches affecting 570,565 patients took place, a notable rise from the more than 311,000 people…
Free Daily News
- 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
- 31,000 Kaiser nurses, healthcare workers prepare for historic strike
- Guideline refines surgical decision-making for patients with cirrhosis
- Cuts to NIOSH, OSHA threaten decades of worker-safety progress
Career Center
- Administrative Director of Perioperative Services - The University of Texas Medical Branch - Galveston, TX
- Registered Nurse - Brooks Rehab - , Florida
- Vascular Surgeon - Western Vascular Institute - Mesa, AZ
- Interventional Spine Specialist - Lahey Hospital and Medical Center - Beth Israel Lahey Health - Burlington, MA