The centralization of medical device processing to one facility is becoming more prevalent. Centralizing sterile processing activities reduces expenses while concentrating expertise. However, this also introduces new concerns. When sterile processing is located within the same building where instrumentation is used, transport occurs over smooth floors in a controlled environment…

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Editor's Note The Joint Commission will launch a new initiative in January 2026 to highlight high-performing practices observed during accreditation surveys, according to an October 1 release from the organization. Called Survey Analysis For Evaluating STrengths (SAFEST), the program aims to provide more balanced feedback to accredited organizations while building…

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Editor's Note The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has updated its immunization schedules to emphasize individual-based decision-making for COVID-19 vaccination and to recommend that toddlers receive a standalone varicella (chickenpox) vaccine rather than the combined measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella (MMRV) shot, a CDC October 6 release reports.…

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Editor's Note Early blood pressure augmentation did not improve neurologic outcomes and was linked to more complications, according to a JAMA Network study published on September 18. In this multicenter randomized clinical trial at 13 US trauma centers, 92 adults with acute cervical or thoracic spinal cord injury were assigned…

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Editor's Note Bariatric surgery delivers greater weight loss and lower long-term costs than GLP-1 medications, Ambulatory Surgery Center News September 18 reports. A new JAMA Surgery study of more than 30,000 patients found that surgical patients lost nearly three times as much weight as those on medication while generating meaningful…

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Editor's Note Two of the nation’s largest health systems are reporting major progress in nurse retention after investing in structured residency programs, mentorship, and professional development. According to a September 10 article from the Catholic Health Association of the United States, CommonSpirit Health has boosted new nurse retention to 86%…

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Editor's Note Artificial intelligence (AI) will not replace perioperative leaders, but it will demand sharper decision-making, closer collaboration, and thoughtful staff engagement, OR Manager coverage reports. AI is poised to transform perioperative practice, yet its value depends on how leaders choose, evaluate, and integrate these technologies. Key insights the article…

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When Phyllis Quinlan, PhD, RN, NPD‑BC, founded MFW Consultants in 1994, she was already on her third career pivot. The former social‑work intern turned emergency‑trauma nurse discovered that the high-stakes of the emergency department (ED), coupled with her human‑behavior insights from sociology and psychology degrees, gave her a rare vantage point on how…

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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 Air quality in cardiac ORs may be a silent driver of surgical site infections (SSIs), with airborne contamination linked to significantly elevated infection risk and mortality—especially when ventilation is suboptimal. A newly published study covered by Medical Dialogues May 19 reveals that one-third of bacteria in cardiac procedures…

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