For decades, ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) have shown their ability to deliver high-quality surgical care at substantially lower cost than hospital outpatient departments (HOPDs). ASCs achieve these savings through leaner operations, streamlined staffing models, and specialty-focused efficiencies, not by compromising safety or outcomes. Studies consistently highlight procedures performed in ASCs…

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Editor's Note Older surgical patients with preoperative cognitive impairment face significantly higher odds of developing postoperative delirium (POD), and POD itself is tied to markedly worse surgical outcomes, according to two major studies published July 2025. Together, the findings point to delirium as both a high-impact and potentially modifiable target…

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Editor's Note Medication management in the perioperative period is often made without robust evidence, requiring clinicians to balance surgical safety with the risks of interrupting treatment, according to expert guidance presented at the annual Perioperative Medicine Summit. Paul Grant, MD, of the University of Michigan Medical School, noted most medications…

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Editor's Note Wisconsin nurses—including Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs)—gain more autonomy under legislation signed August 8 by Governor Tony Evers, according to an August 8 report in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Under the new legislation, nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, CNRAs and certified nurse-midwives who meet certain qualifications may obtain…

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Editor’s Note: This page is a companion piece to the main article, How ASCs ace the AAAHC accreditation survey. The posts below cover the latest version of the handbook from the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC) and advice on delineation of privileges.  Navigating the new handbook The latest…

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Editor's Note Psychological interventions such as hypnosis, music therapy, and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) may reduce acute pain in clinical settings, though statistically significant effects were found only in some studies, according to a July 16 scoping review published in The Journal of PeriAnesthesia Nursing. Hypnosis was the most adaptable…

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Editor's Note The Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC) launched a new pain management toolkit that prioritizes multimodal strategies to improve outcomes and reduce opioid use in ambulatory surgery. Designed for the unique challenges of outpatient care, the resource provides practical, evidence-based guidance to optimize safety, comfort, and recovery.…

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Editor's Note A new international consensus offers the first multidisciplinary definition and set of recommendations for group-based preoperative education programs, sometimes referred to as “surgery schools.” Published June 21 in the British journal Anaesthesia, the expert-driven guidance aims to improve patient preparation, experience, and recovery for those undergoing major elective…

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Takeaways • Different types of ASC leadership structures can be adapted to meet organizational needs. • Regulations, accreditation standards, size, and ownership types are examples of factors influencing the leadership structure. • Ongoing success of the ASC leadership team depends on factors such as governing body diversity and strategic planning.…

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Editor's Note The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has designated recent medical device recalls involving GE Healthcare’s Carestation anesthesia system, Medtronic aortic root cannula systems, Zoll Circulation’s AutoPulse NXT Resuscitation System, and Medtronic’s Bravo CF Capsule Delivery Devices as Class 1, the most severe category indicating serious risk of…

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