Supply Chain/Technology
Study: Virtual reality reduces preoperative anxiety in heart surgery patients
Editor's Note Virtual reality (VR) may help older patients manage anxiety before open-heart surgery, according to a study published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings. Medical Xpress covered the news February 12. According to the article, researchers found that immersive VR and tablet-based VR significantly lowered anxiety levels, offering a nonpharmacological alternative…
CABG, TAVR drive hospital revenue despite cost variations
Editor's Note Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery and transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) generate the highest overall financial returns for US hospitals, despite not being the most profitable per procedure, according to a February 13 report in Cardiovascular Business. The article covers an analysis of Medicare data, published in…
Human trafficking in healthcare supply chains often underrecognized, expert argues
Editor's Note Although human trafficking’s infiltration into healthcare labor and supply chains is pervasive, many clinicians and other professionals remain unaware of the extent of the issue, according to a February 3 opinion piece in MedPage Today. While efforts have focused on identifying trafficking victims in clinical settings, healthcare organizations…
Session: Anchors Away: 5 Strategies to Right-Size Your Inventory and Improve Supply Contracts
Editor's Note As executive director of the Association for Health Care Resource & Materials Management (AHRMM), Michael Schiller, CMRP, gets regular insight into strategies employed by healthcare organizations, suppliers, technology leaders and frontline staff—insight he was happy to share with OR business Management Conference attendees in a February 11 presentation.…
Closing Keynote: Trimming the Sails: Improving Perioperative Efficiency by Managing Same-Day Admission Transitions
Editor's Note Attendees to the 2025 OR Business Management Conference gained new insight with an international flavor from Moustafa Bleik and Fadi Fares, who had flown all the way from Saudi Arabia to detail recent improvements at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center. In a session with multiple audience…
Session: Navigating the Storm: Ensuring Operational Continuity Through Crisis Leadership
Editor's Note In an expansive session at the 2025 OR Business Management Conference, Tampa General Hospital's emergency management team demonstrated how proactive planning, strong partnerships, and real-time decision-making helped navigate multiple crises in 2024, including back-to-back hurricanes and a cyberattack on the state's blood supply. The session was presented by Erinn…
Session: Cracking the Code: Innovative Hacks for Preference Card Management and C-Suite Support
Editor's Note Outdated and inaccurate preference cards cost hospitals millions of dollars in delayed surgeries wasted supplies—but with the right strategy, they can become a powerful tool for efficiency and cost reduction. This was among the main takeaways of a 2025 OR Business Management Conference presentation from Jason Goodwin, MPH,…
Session: Crew Incentives: 3 Guiding Principles to Leverage Value Analysis Teams
Editor's Note Jasmine Hampton-Nicholson MSN, RN, CNOR, learned the value of a value analysis team (VAT) the hard way. “I thought that we had a very solid process for our value analysis team,” said the VP of perioperative services at Temple University Health System in a presentation at 2025 OR…
Session: Modernizing OR Scheduling—How Northwell Health Streamlined Block Management
Editor's Note Driving efficiency in perioperative scheduling requires a combination of the right technology, cross-team collaboration, and a commitment to change management. This was among the primary takeaways of an OR Business Management Conference session on Northwell Health's approach to optimizing operating room (OR) workflows. Adam Becker, MPA, assistant vice…
Session: Anchoring Profits—Restructuring Inventory Practices to Secure $200 Million in Cost Savings
Editor's Note Restructuring inventory management has slashed costs and enhanced efficiency at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), presenters revealed at the OR Business Management Conference, touting an initial savings estimate of $200 million. Presented by Paul Flaherty, CRCST, Senior Manager Customer Service, Joshua Gomez, MPH, Business Operations Manager, and Steve Spring,…
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