Resources
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…
Celebrate National ASC Month with exclusive OR Manager insights
Editor's Note As we begin National Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC) Month, we’ve been reflecting on all OR Manager has to offer this critical subset of our audience—and all that is yet to come. First, why celebrate ASCs, and how to get involved? According to the Ambulatory Surgery Center Association…
Blast from the past: Revised data, evolving standards for OSA care in the perioperative setting
An estimated 22 million Americans were believed to have obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in 2019, according to data cited in a February 2019 article published by OR Manager. At that time, up to 80% of cases were undiagnosed, and 30% to 40% of the surgical patient population was believed to…
CMS 2026 proposed rule: Expanded ASC access, higher payments, tighter quality reporting
Editor's Note The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) just proposed sweeping changes to the Medicare Shared Savings Program and Physician Fee Schedule for calendar year 2026, including extensive changes to outpatient Medicare policy such as payment increases, expanded procedural access, and new quality reporting updates, as outlined in…
New AAAHC toolkit advances pain control while cutting opioid use in outpatient surgery
Editor's Note The Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC) launched a new pain management toolkit that prioritizes multimodal strategies to improve outcomes and reduce opioid use in ambulatory surgery. Designed for the unique challenges of outpatient care, the resource provides practical, evidence-based guidance to optimize safety, comfort, and recovery.…
Nurse-focused EHR training aims to cut burnout and prep for AI future
Editor's Note Epic has introduced a free training program to help nurses and medical assistants reduce time spent using electronic health records (EHRs), addressing a key factor contributing to widespread burnout. According to a recent article in Fierce Healthcare, the Nursing SmartUser classes launched during National Nurses Week and aim…
Revised sterilization standards demand urgent attention from perioperative leaders
Editor's Note New and revised sterilization and reprocessing standards are reshaping the landscape for sterile processing departments, placing greater emphasis on chemical modalities, device-specific protocols, and system-wide quality management, according to the Healthcare Purchasing News May 27 update on compliance and standards. Among the most significant developments is the overhaul…
Perioperative care for transgender patients demands specialized, affirming, informed practice, experts say
Editor's Note New clinical guidelines emphasize that safe and equitable perioperative care for transgender and gender-diverse (TGD) patients hinges on affirming communication, tailored medical assessments, and culturally competent practice. According to a peer-reviewed article published in the June issue of Nursing, perioperative teams must adopt evidence-based, inclusive approaches to better…
Amid outbreaks, vaccine policy shifts, experts offer practical strategies to safeguard OR staff
Vaccine health has been dominating the news amid ongoing measles and whooping cough outbreaks and high influenza activity last season. It is also on the minds of The Joint Commission surveyors, as the organization has updated infection control standards that took effect in July 2024 for hospitals and critical access…
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- AI model grades nursing procedures with near-human precision
- Study: Hospitals can safely cut low-value preop tests before routine surgeries
- New studies highlight opportunities to improve pediatric anesthesia safety, comfort
- Social and behavioral factors emerging as key predictors of recovery quality after surgery
- Hospitals being squeezed: Anesthesia workforce gaps, payer cuts threaten surgery access
- CDC layoffs cripple national injury and overdose tracking, leaving prevention efforts in doubt
- The Joint Commission makes nurse staffing a national performance goal for 2026
- Telehealth in limbo: Providers split on continuing Medicare services during shutdown
- States take aim at outpatient facility fees driving higher commercial health costs