Safety/Quality
CMS plan to phase out inpatient only list sparks debate over safety for vulnerable patients
Editor's Note The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is moving to eliminate its Inpatient Only (IPO) List over the next 3 years, a decision that could permanently shift more surgical procedures from hospitals to outpatient settings. According to an August 24 article from Fierce Healthcare, the policy promises…
ACS issues new best practices for managing genitourinary trauma
Editor's Note The American College of Surgeons (ACS) has released updated Best Practices Guidelines for the Management of Genitourinary Injuries, providing trauma teams with evidence-based recommendations to improve outcomes for patients with injuries to the kidneys, bladder, ureters, urethra, and genitalia. According to an ACS August 26 news release, the…
Complex aortic surgery shown safe with minimally invasive approach
Editor's Note Minimally invasive surgery can extend beyond valve replacement to complex aortic procedures without sacrificing safety or long-term outcomes. According to an August 21 news update from the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, a new study of 796 patients found adding ascending aortic or hemiarch replacement to…
Drug that makes tumors glow is transforming cancer surgery
Editor's Note A new drug is giving surgeons a sharper view of cancer in the OR and helping preserve healthy tissue, Fast Company August 28 reports. Cytalux is an FDA-approved fluorescent agent that makes cancer cells glow green under infrared light, allowing surgeons to spot and remove malignant lesions with…
Strategies for perioperative leaders to build a diverse workforce
In perioperative care, high-performing teams are critical to patient safety and workflow efficiency. Diversity in hiring is not only a matter of compliance—it directly influences care quality, communication, and innovation. A diverse healthcare workforce reflects the varied backgrounds of patients, which builds trust and cultural competency. Research shows that when…
Robotic surgery boosts 3-year relapse-free survival in rectal cancer
Editor's Note Robotic surgery improves 3-year relapse-free survival compared with laparoscopic surgery for rectal cancer, according to findings presented at the 2025 annual meeting of the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons, published by Gastroenterology & Endoscopy News on August 18. As detailed in the article, researchers conducted a…
Lessons for leadership: Navigating change in times of persistent uncertainty
Healthcare has never been static, but today’s perioperative leaders face a unique challenge: steering teams through volatility, complexity, and rapid disruption. In a recent OR Manager webinar, Phyllis Quinlan, PhD, RN, NPD-BC, executive coach, nurse entrepreneur, and longtime advocate for caregiver resilience, offered a candid roadmap for change management in…
Low-cost simulation helps surgical trainees practice crisis skills for major hemorrhage
Editor's Note A novel, low-cost simulation of intraoperative hemorrhage successfully challenged surgical residents and fellows to practice both technical and nontechnical crisis management skills. According to a study published in Surgery on August 19, the model replicated a lacerated vena cava bleed and allowed learners to rehearse vascular repair, teamwork,…
FDA issues early alerts on multiple high-risk device recalls from J&J, Medtronic, Baxter, Boston Scientific
Editor's Note The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a series of early alerts this month regarding high-risk recalls from several leading medical device makers, citing patient safety risks ranging from pump failures to vascular complications. These alerts highlight issues with products from Johnson & Johnson’s (J&J’s) Abiomed unit,…
New UCSF measure shows 1 in 60 cesarean deliveries involve serious surgical complications
Editor's Note Roughly one in every 60 cesarean deliveries results in a severe surgical complication, according to new research from University of California San Francisco (UCSF) published in Obstetrics and Gynecology, MedicalXpress August 25 reports. With about 1.1 million cesareans performed each year in the US, this translates to an…
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- 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
- Nearly half of US physicians now work for large systems: GAO links consolidation to higher costs
- Sustainable surgery can cut costs, reduce emissions, improve care, review finds
- Study: Surgical hospital closures hit vulnerable communities hardest
- Federal pushback on CHAI exposes rifts over who should set healthcare AI rules
- High prices, not overuse, keep US healthcare costs far above peer nations
- Children’s Health Dallas takes top national spot in pediatric ortho surgery as US News names 2025–26 ‘Best Children’s Hospitals’
- FDA issues Class I alert for Abiomed Impella heart device over cybersecurity risks
- Study finds Medicare paid nearly $2 billion for unnecessary back surgeries