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…
In July 2025, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) proposed sweeping changes to the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule for calendar year 2026. Among the most impactful updates is the launch of the Ambulatory Specialty Model (ASM)—a mandatory value-based payment program focused on heart failure and low back pain.…
Editor’s Note: This page is a companion piece to the main article, Emergency preparedness: Identifying essential supplies for unplanned surgical events. While the main article outlines the principles of emergency readiness and supply preparation in the OR, the posts below offer a closer look at two key implementation areas: Supply…
Comparing healthcare to aviation is a long-standing tradition, especially when discussing safety systems like checklists. However, the similarities extend beyond protocols. Just as flying a paper airplane differs vastly from piloting a jumbo jet, so too does earning a certificate of attendance differ from achieving professional certification. Parallels like these…
Editor's Note Using 3D-printed anatomical models during preoperative consultations significantly improved shared decision-making (SDM) and modestly reduced anxiety in colorectal surgery patients, according to a June 3 study published in JAMA Network Open. The single-center, cluster randomized clinical trial enrolled 51 adult patients scheduled for colon or rectal resection due…
Editor's Note States that grant full practice authority to advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) rank significantly higher in health system performance than those that impose physician supervision requirements, according to a July 3 report from the University of Missouri. The article focuses on a study led by researchers at the…
Editor's Note With healthcare leaders stretched thin by staffing shortages, financial pressures, and the constant need to adapt, the 2025 OR Manager Conference agenda couldn't be more timely—or more practical. We asked our Program Committee members to share the sessions they're prioritizing this year. Their picks promise real solutions and…
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…
Editor's Note The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN)’s AACN’s 2024-2025 Enrollment and Graduations survey shows undergraduate and graduate nursing programs saw enrollment gains in 2024, with a 4.9% increase in Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program enrollment, along with a 1.6% gain in RN-to-BSN programs following five…
Editor's Note Financial strain, stress, and uncertainty are not enough to deter many US nurses from saying their education and careers have been worthwhile. That is one reading of the results of Nurse.org’s 2025 Nurse Survey, which collected responses from more than 6,000 US nurses between January and April. Overall,…