Latest sterilization packaging guideline backed by evidence
In October 2019, AORN released its updated Guideline for Sterilization Packaging, which is based on evidence from peer-reviewed literature. This article includes recommendations from that guideline and addresses common misconceptions about sterilization packaging. Other resources for proper use of sterilization packaging include the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation…
Back to basics: How collaboration can improve PACU patient flow
Healthcare technology can be a great thing, but nurses at Abington—Jefferson Health, in Abington, Pennsylvania, have discovered that sometimes stepping back from it is the best way to make progress. Going low-tech was the key that unlocked patient flow gridlock that had plagued the postanesthesia care unit (PACU). Before 2017,…
Using project management principles to hardwire ERAS protocols
Implementation of Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) Health System in Richmond has been achieved through project and change management tools that transform the current state to the desired future state. To hardwire ERAS protocols in the OR as well as the ambulatory and acute care…
How prepared is your ASC to handle a surgical emergency?
Surgical errors and emergencies can happen at any time, at any facility. For ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs), a major challenge is finding official guidance on the topic. For the most part, it’s up to the individual facility to craft its own policies, competencies, and drills for OR emergencies. “The Association…
Nuts and bolts of new technology acquisition--Part 1
Surgeons often are eager to acquire the newest technology, particularly right after attending a conference with a vendor-packed exhibit hall. How can OR leaders weigh surgeon demands with organizational cost constraints to ensure they meet patient needs while being fiscally responsible? The first step is to acknowledge the complexity of…
Recycling program evolves to sustain gains in waste reduction
Approximately 5.9 million tons of waste annually comes from the healthcare industry, and one-third of that waste comes directly from the OR. Each year, an increasing number of disposable products are used in the OR. To address this dilemma, an OR recycling performance improvement committee was formed at Massachusetts General…
Editorial
Nonprofit hospitals and health systems got a vote of confidence in December 2019 when Moody’s Investors Service revised its 2020 outlook from negative to stable. The report projected an increase in operating cash flows by 2% to 3%. Moody’s says increased reimbursements and higher patient volumes will boost revenue. But…
Mastering predictive modeling to improve patient care
The Best in OR Business Award is presented annually at the OR Business Management Conference to recognize an outstanding leader who has saved on costs, increased OR utilization, improved patient safety, or otherwise streamlined the surgical services department. The 2020 award will be presented to Vikram Tiwari, PhD, associate professor…
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