It is no long best practice to deliver education via a traditional lecture with PowerPoint slides or an unimaginative online learning module. “These techniques are boring and not effective,” says Beverly Kirchner, MSN, BSN, RN, CNOR(E), CASC, chief compliance officer for SurgeryDirect, LLC. “Staff just listen or read the information,…
Editor's Note A Johns Hopkins team is reporting unprecedented success in preventing pancreatic cancer recurrence by combining pre-surgical and intraoperative radiation focused on a key anatomical area near the pancreas, News Medical Life Sciences October 30 reports. Citing a Johns Hopkins Medicine preliminary study, this approach reportedly reduced recurrence around…
When it comes to treating chronic pain—or pain associated with surgery—clinicians are always looking for alternatives to opioids. “There are zero advantages to chronic opioid use,” says Earl Kilbride, MD, MHA, an orthopedic surgeon at the Austin Orthopedic Institute. While the US makes up about 4.4% of the global population,…
Editor's Note Unchecked surgical innovation can harm patients, derail careers, and erode trust, Bulletin of the Royal College of Surgeons of England October 31 reports. Failures to properly evaluate and monitor new or modified procedures have led to patient harm, surgeon suspensions, and even criminal convictions, per the article, which…
Editor's Note A new medical training institute in Charlotte, North Carolina, is positioning itself as a major national destination for robotic and minimally invasive surgery education, Axios Charlotte October 29 reports. The North American headquarters of IRCAD (Institut de Recherche contre les Cancers de l’Appareil Digestif, or Research Institute Against…
Editor's Note What a week it was! The 2025 OR Manager Conference just wrapped up at the Anaheim Convention Center, and perioperative leaders are already talking about what is next. Mark your calendars—the 2026 OR Manager Conference is heading to Savannah, Georgia, at the Savannah Convention Center on October 5–7,…
Editor's Note MD Anderson is hardwiring career mobility so staff can see, test, and pursue growth without leaving the division. According to this session’s panel—including Abigail Caudle, MD, MHCM, FACS, vice president of procedural and therapeutic medical operations; Robert Ghafar, MBA, RTT, vice president of procedural and therapeutic operations; and…
Effective communication is the foundation of patient safety in the modern surgical environment. Most surgical procedures depend on seamless collaboration among surgeons, nurses, surgical technologists, and anesthesiologists, and when communication breaks down, patient risk rises sharply. In 2024, the American College of Surgeons reported standardized surgical handoffs improved adherence to…
Editor's Note Advocacy begins where safety meets purpose. That was the resounding message from UF Health Shands’ Michele Brunges, MSN, RN, CNOR, CHSE, director of surgical services; Katherine Hayes, BSN, RN, CNOR-CARD, nursing professional development specialist for perioperative services; and Kristy Perry, MSN, RN, CNOR, clinical coordinator of the north…
Editor’s Note Healthcare cannot afford to “rewind,” said Dan Weberg, PhD, MHI, RN, FAAN, executive director of nursing workforce development and innovation at Kaiser Permanente, during his opening keynote on leading and embracing innovation in healthcare. According to Dr Weberg, healthcare’s “blockbuster moment” has arrived, and leaders must choose to…