Editor's Note Amid a lack of focus and lack of resources on perioperative mental health, alleviating patient anxiety and preventing poor surgical outcomes requires creative solutions. This is the central argument of a May 12 commentary in The Conversation by Renée El-Gabalawy, a clinical psychologist and associate professor at the…
Editor's Note Prostate cancer surgeries for low-risk patients have plummeted since 2010, signaling major progress in reducing overtreatment, according to an April 29 announcement from the University of Michigan. University researchers reportedly found that the proportion of men undergoing prostatectomy for Grade Group 1 prostate cancer—the lowest-risk category—dropped more than…
Editor's Note Healthgrades has recognized 377 hospitals across 44 states with its 2025 Outstanding Patient Experience Award, as announced in a May 13 press release. These hospitals represent the top 15% nationwide for patient experience, demonstrating exceptional performance in delivering positive, patient-centered care. The award is based on an analysis…
Editor's Note Patients taking SGLT2 inhibitors face a higher risk of postoperative euglycemic ketoacidosis (eKA) but experience fewer acute kidney injuries and deaths after surgery, according to an April 30 article in Medical Xpress. The article focuses on new research published in JAMA Surgery. Led by researchers at the University…
Editor's Note Nonprofit hospitals, which are legally required to provide free or discounted care to qualifying patients, attempt to collect hundreds of millions of dollars from low-income patients annually while receiving significant tax breaks meant to ensure affordable care, according to a May 12 article from CBS News. As…
Editor's Note A machine learning (ML) model that integrates clinical data with natural language processing significantly improved detection and management of hospital delirium in older adults. Results were published May 7 in JAMA Network Open. Conducted at Mount Sinai Hospital, the quality improvement study evaluated the association of an ML-based…
Editor's Note Surgical staff support for OR temperature management is not always paired with the knowledge required to properly prevent perioperative hypothermia, according to an April 30 study in Nature: Scientific Reports. This multicenter, cross-sectional study surveyed 213 operating room professionals—surgeons, anesthesiologists, and nurses—across eight hospitals in northern China. The…
Editor's Note A thoughtful, operations-driven approach to ambulatory surgery center (ASC) facility design can prevent major delays, costly change orders, and inefficient workflows down the line, according to a May 2 presentation from Akshay Tavkar, MBA, CMPE, CASC, principal and managing director of Skyline Healthcare Solutions, LLC, at the Ambulatory…
Editor's Note Preadmission clinics (PACs) are supporting perioperative care by reducing complications, shortening hospital stays, and improving surgical outcomes—particularly for high-risk patients. As detailed in the April 2025 edition of ASA Monitor from the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA), PACs operate as multidisciplinary outpatient hubs where medical optimization, risk assessment,…
Editor's Note Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) remain a significant concern in thyroidectomy patients, with incidence rates reaching up to 80% in high-risk groups, Medical Dialogues April 25 reports. Despite effective intraoperative and postanesthesia care unit (PACU) protocols, gaps often arise during patient transitions to wards or intensive care units,…