Editor's Note A mixed reality navigation (MRN) system for neurosurgery achieved performance comparable to traditional optical navigation (TON) in certain clinical scenarios, while significantly reducing equipment costs, according to an August 1 study published in BMC Surgery. The MRN system, built around a Microsoft HoloLens headset and infrared tracking tools,…

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Editor's Note Nearly half of hospital harm events—particularly surgical events—were not captured by reporting systems, according to a July 30 TechTarget report on new findings from the Office of Inspector General (OIG). The OIG report examined 299 harm events experienced by a nationally representative sample of 770 Medicare patients discharged…

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Editor's Note Serious cybersecurity vulnerabilities remain in healthcare despite significant improvements in recent years, according to a July 16 MedCity News report on recent data from cybersecurity firm Fortified Health Security. Fortified’s research, which reportedly draws on NIST CSF data and first–hand experience from the field, assesses the state of…

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How would you describe the ideal OR? Whatever the answer, the chance to reimagine and reshape the perioperative suite can be among the most exciting projects of a perioperative leader’s career. However, OR construction and renovation also can be among the most daunting projects of a perioperative leader’s career. Just…

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Editor's Note AI-enabled sensors, smart surveillance systems, and predictive analytics are advancing perioperative workflows while helping prevent breaches that can lead to surgical site infections (SSIs). This is the primary takeaway of a July 15 Q&A with Herman DeBoard, PhD, CEO of Huvr Inc., in Infection Control Today. As detailed…

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Editor's Note A robust scheduling model can significantly improve OR efficiency and stability when surgery and recovery times are unpredictable, according to research published in the journal Mathematics. Using a Genetic Algorithm for Robust Scheduling (GARS), the authors demonstrate a practical and computationally efficient method for minimizing makespan across a…

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Editor's Note Mayo Clinic researchers have developed an artificial intelligence (AI) system that detects surgical site infections (SSIs) from patient-submitted wound photos. According to the July 7 announcement, the model achieved 94% accuracy in detecting surgical incisions and an 81% area under the curve (AUC) in identifying infections. According to…

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Editor's Note Microsoft’s MAI Diagnostic Orchestrator (MAI-DxO)artificial intelligence (AI) system outperformed physicians on diagnostic accuracy, achieving an 80% score compared to only 20% for a panel of human doctors. Wired reported the news June 30, quoting an official calling the system “a genuine step toward medical superintelligence” and noting that…

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Editor's Note Epic has introduced a free training program to help nurses and medical assistants reduce time spent using electronic health records (EHRs), addressing a key factor contributing to widespread burnout. According to a recent article in Fierce Healthcare, the Nursing SmartUser classes launched during National Nurses Week and aim…

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Editor's Note Johnson & Johnson MedTech has launched the Polyphonic AI Fund for Surgery to accelerate the development of artificial intelligence solutions aimed at improving surgical care before, during, and after procedures. According to the company’s June 25 announcement, the initiative brings together key partners, including NVIDIA and Amazon Web…

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