Editor's Note The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on July 26 issued a draft Unique Device Identification (UDI) guideline that requires most medical device labels and packages to bear a UDI in easily readable plain-text and automatic identification and data capture technology forms. UDIs must be issued under a system…

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Editor's Note An automated text and voice messaging system improved communication about preventive steps orthopedic patients should take a week before surgery and the postoperative signs of infection to report in the 2 weeks after surgery. The system reminds patients to fill their prescriptions for antibiotic ointment and body wash…

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Editor's Note Implementation of a forced-completion electronically mediated time out to minimize the rate of wrong surgery is feasible, but its effect on wrong surgery is unclear, finds this study. Researchers created an electronic system using intraoperative electronic documentation to present a time-out checklist on large in-room displays. Time out…

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Editor's Note Hospital readmission app could save billions An award-winning app developed by graduate students at Binghamton University, State University of New York, could help reduce readmission rates and save the healthcare industry billions. The Android-based mobile app called “Post Discharge Treatment and Readmission Predictor,” creates a special messaging service…

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Editor's Note A new measure for assessing the body’s response to painful stimuli during surgery may allow for better anesthesia management, less pain when regaining consciousness, and better postoperative outcomes, this study finds. The measure, called the nociception (pain) level index, uses an algorithm to process multiple hormonal and neurological…

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Editor's Note A new long-acting cardioplegia solution resulted in better outcomes for pediatric cardiac surgery patients in this study, presented May 16 at the annual meeting of the American Association for Thoracic Surgery in Baltimore. Researchers randomized 100 pediatric patients to the new Del Nido solution or the conventional St…

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Editor's Note Autonomous robotic surgery performed by the Smart Tissue Autonomous Robot (STAR) may help healthcare providers improve outcomes and efficiency, while reducing errors, finds this study. STAR integrates a robotic arm, suturing device, and imaging capabilities. Surgeons tested STAR against manual, laparoscopic, and robot-assisted surgery for porcine intestinal anastomoses…

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Editor's Note Nurses are becoming innovators at the MakerHealth Space at the University of Texas Medical Branch-Galveston---a workspace where they can brainstorm ideas for healthcare innovations that will improve patient care, and they can build prototypes of their ideas. MakerHealth Space began as an expedition site for a concept from…

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Editor's Note The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on February 3 released a draft guidance document, “Enforcement policy on national health related item code and national drug code numbers assigned to devices.” The draft describes the FDA’s intent not to enforce before September 24, 2021, the prohibition against National Health…

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Editor's Note The Oregon Outpatient Surgery Center (Tigard, Oregon) is the first ambulatory surgery center in the Northwest to perform same-day total hip replacements, the January 4 Oregonian reports. The center offers both posterior and anterior total hips for qualified patients. Patients are carefully screened and must be in good…

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