Editor's Note Healthcare employment in the US rose by 52,000 from February to March, according to the latest report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), released on March 7. The figure is in line with the average monthly gain of 54,000 over the past 12 months. As reported by…
Reduced costs, faster recovery, and other advantages can make outpatient surgical procedures more convenient for providers and patients alike. Ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) are incredibly safe, but a lot of work goes into infection control. Cross-trained staff often wear many hats, and limited budgets may not leave room for dedicated…
Certain perioperative leaders stand out for their ability to inspire teams, drive innovation, and maintain excellence in patient care. Amid continued staffing shortages, technological change, and evolving patient needs, the recipients of the 2024 OR Manager Awards exemplify all these qualities and more. Nominated by their peers and recognized in…
It is with great pleasure that we welcome you to the 2025 OR Business Management Conference, taking place from February 10 to 12 at the Saddlebrook Resort in Tampa, Florida. We hope you will make the most of this premier event, which is dedicated to equipping perioperative business leaders with…
Ensuring safe, quality care requires precise alignment among inventory levels, delivery schedules, storage solutions, and every other element of the supply chain. A single missing piece of this puzzle—say, a delayed shipment or a storage issue—can disrupt the entire picture. Making the pieces fit can be difficult for any healthcare…
Editor's Note Ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) are increasingly adopting a new wrong-site surgery prevention toolkit, introduced by the ASC Quality Collaboration (ASCQC) in late 2024, ASC Focus January 17 reports. Designed to improve patient safety, this complimentary resource is packed with materials tailored to address the unique challenges of preventing…
Editor's Note In a January 9 episode of the Advancing Surgical Care Podcast, ASCA President Mark Wainner engaged Alfonso del Granado, MBA, FACHE, CASC, an ASCA Board member and administrator of Covenant High Plains Surgery Center in Lubbock, Texas, in a discussion focusing on the pressing issue of anesthesia provider…
Editor's Note New and revised workplace violence prevention requirements take effect for The Joint Commission-accredited, office-based surgery practices July 1, The Joint Commission announced. According to the January 16 announcement, which also announced new and revised standards for accredited assisted living communities and nursing care centers, the updates aim to…
Perioperative leaders are entering a time of uncertainty after 2024 proved to be transformative for inpatient and outpatient surgical care. Last year saw important updates from The Joint Commission and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) that emphasized improvements alongside ongoing challenges in safety, workforce shortages, reimbursement, and…
Editor's Note The Leapfrog Group has announced its 2024 Top Hospital and Top Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC) Award recipients December 17, honoring facilities for standout performance in patient safety and care quality. This year, the national employer watchdog organization named 134 hospitals and 31 ASCs as winners of the national…