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 This year, the OR Manager Conference promises playbooks attendees can put to work the day they return home. The event, being held in Anaheim on October 28–30, targets the system-level goals perioperative leaders are accountable for: capacity, cost, culture, and safety across multi-site enterprises. Attendees will get concrete…

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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 Elective surgical procedures such as cholecystectomy and hernia repair can be performed safely in carefully selected patients with cirrhosis, but high-risk individuals still need alternatives, according to an updated American College of Gastroenterology guideline, Medscape October 3 reports. The guideline emphasizes individualized risk stratification that integrates liver disease…

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Editor's Note A new study shows that video-language models (VLMs) can reliably evaluate nursing procedures, detect errors, and provide feedback, paving the way for scalable AI-assisted training in nursing education, Cornell University September 20 reports. The paper, titled “Automated Procedural Analysis via Video-Language Models for AI-assisted Nursing Skills Assessment”, outlines…

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Editor's Note Fewer than one in ten older adults undergoing major elective surgery complete advance care planning (ACP), but a new multisite randomized trial aims to change that. According to a September 23 article published by BMJ Open, the study design for the I CAN DO Surgical ACP trial has…

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Editor's Note The American College of Surgeons (ACS) has launched a new online tool that helps patients and families locate hospitals recognized for delivering high-quality surgical care, according to an August 26 ACS announcement. The “Find a Hospital” tool highlights facilities that have earned ACS accreditation or verification through an…

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Editor's Note Ambulatory care leaders can now sharpen compliance strategies with the release of the 2025 Quality Roadmap from the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC), published September 22. The annual report distills more than a year of survey findings into practical guidance for addressing the most common accreditation…

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Editor's Note Most newly licensed nurses require about 12 months before they can practice autonomously, a HealthLeaders September 8 analysis reports. The article highlights findings from a recent National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) study of 200 nurses, 74% of whom reported that a full year was necessary…

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Editor's Note Hospitals will soon face stronger accountability for suicide prevention, as The Joint Commission prepares to implement “National Performance Goal (NPG) 8” on January 1, 2026, its September 3 news update reports. The goal, titled “The hospital reduces the risk for suicide,” replaces current requirements under “National Patient Safety…

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