Safety/Quality
Potential solutions to the perioperative nursing shortage
Surgical volume is rising, and the need for perioperative nurses continues to grow. Same-day procedures are becoming more common, even for complex cases such as total joint replacements and spine surgery. With the decrease in in-patient, post-surgical stays and more surgeries being performed in various ambulatory settings, the skillset for…
Easing the pain of electronic health records: Part 2
Electronic health records (EHRs) can be a force for good, promoting patient safety, but they also often have multiple pain points. OR leaders can take steps to ease those pain points. Part 1 of this two-part series provided an overview of EHR challenges and how managers can work with staff…
CMS quality reporting update for ASCs
A lot has happened with ASC quality measure reporting in the last 2 years, especially this year, says Gina Throneberry, MBA, RN, CNOR, CASC, director, education and clinical affairs, Ambulatory Surgery Center Association (ASCA). Throneberry spoke at the ASCA annual conference in April. In the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid…
Developing a surveillance program for SSIs in ASCs
The CDC’s healthcare-associated infection (HAI) prevalence survey estimated that 110,800 surgical site infections (SSIs) were connected with inpatient procedures in 2015. As of 2020, Advancing Surgical Care reported that there are around 5,700 Medicare-certified ambulatory surgical centers (ASCs) in the US. Of these, only 6 states require ASCs to use…
CDC eases mask recommendations in nursing homes and hospitals
Editor's Note The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has eased its mask recommendations for nursing homes and hospitals not experiencing high levels of COVID-19 transmission, US News & World Report September 26 reports. The CDC made these changes to the updated guidelines published on Friday, September 23. Unlike…
Substance use disorder admissions down, overdose deaths up during COVID-19
Editor's Note This study led by the RAND Corporation, Santa Monica, California, finds a 23.5% decrease in substance use disorder treatment admissions across the US during COVID-19. In 2020, the number of substance use disorders admissions decreased from 65.9 to 50.4 per 10,000. The decrease was larger for men (87.5…
FDA: Class I recall of certain Philips Respironics BiPAP machines
Editor's Note The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on September 23 identified the recall by Philips Respironics of certain models of its BiPAP machines as Class I, the most serious. The recall was initiated because certain machines may contain a plastic contaminated with a noncompatible material. If the plastic is…
Nursing shortage could reach more than 1M by end of year
Editor's Note A protest from RNs at the University of Chicago Medical Center on September 15 was the latest outcry from the workforce to shed light on safety concerns rising from the chronic staffing shortage; more than 580 nurses have left UChicago Medical Center since September 2021, and the country’s…
Cancer death rates drop as treatments and screening improves
Editor's Note Strides have been made in cancer treatments, diagnostic tools and prevention strategies, driving down cancer death rates, according to a report published Wednesday, September 21, by the American Association for Cancer Research, NBC News September 21 reports. According to the group’s annual Cancer Progress Report, over the past…
Most COVID-19 patients recover in a year
Editor's Note This Canadian study finds that most COVID-19 patients recover within 12 months, irrespective of severity. Researchers surveyed 106 patients recovering from COVID-19 at 3-, 6-, and 12 months. A total of 75% had recovered at the 12-month mark, but 25% still had at least one of three common…
Free Daily News
- Five orthopods establish Hand, Wrist & Elbow Institute at Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush
- Allegheny Valley Hospital opens expanded inpatient rehabilitation unit
- TV station reports instrument concerns at St. Louis hospital
- Medical assistant’s personal experience helps anxious heart failure patients process their situations
- Georgia surgeon arrested for assaulting recovering patient at hospital
- ACS highlights three aspects of CMS’ 2026 coding and reimbursement changes
- Workers describe ‘disruptive’ ICE presence inside Minneapolis’ Hennepin County Medical Center
- ASA study says changes needed for pain management of surgical patients on MOUD treatments
- A closer look at how AI is changing surgery
- New study links higher postoperative mortality to income level