Editorial
Enhanced recovery protocols aren’t a new concept, but new data linking them with better outcomes in colorectal surgery patients suggest they’re worth considering—and perhaps should be more widely adopted. In a study published online in January in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons, enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS)…
Best business practices shared during annual conference
Some 300 surgical services leaders from across the US gathered in Orlando in February for the OR Business Management Conference to escape from winter and absorb the collective wisdom of a stellar group of presenters and exhibitors. Presentations on Lean management, scheduling innovations, staff relationships, nurse education, and cost-saving measures—to…
Editorial
Every perioperative services staff member, at every level, contributes to the success or failure of the department. Exceptional leaders understand this, and they are most successful when they discourage intimidation and invite everyone to take ownership of their roles. Teamwork in the OR is the next frontier in quality perioperative…
Gains are worth the pain in forming comanagement agreements
The changing healthcare environment is forcing physicians and hospitals to find new ways of working together to achieve top performance. As payers move to value-based purchasing and providers raise the bar on quality, efficiency, and cost savings, a sustainable model that drives results is essential. One effective physician–hospital model built…
Editorial
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services penalizes hospitals for readmissions stemming from myocardial infarction, heart failure, pneumonia, and total hip and knee arthroplasty, and in 2016, coronary artery bypass graft procedures will be added to the mix. For this and many other reasons, OR leaders everywhere are taking steps…
Editorial
Reports that emerged in late 2014 reflect both progress and problems in healthcare delivery. And while regulatory and financial hurdles continue to loom large in 2015, some of these obstacles are being cleared. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality cited an impressive 1.3 million decline in the number of…
Editorial
Education is always high on my list of goals at the start of a new year, and OR Manager’s two annual events are excellent resources for new insights into the care of surgical patients. Both will feature experienced leaders addressing the key issues that affect the management of ORs in…
Editorial
More than 2,600 hospitals in fiscal year 2015 are facing Medicare readmission penalties, to the tune of an estimated $428 million, a recent Kaiser Health News report indicates. Among these, 39 hospitals—including some specialty surgical hospitals, small community hospitals, and a major teaching facility—will lose the maximum 3% of their…
Conference equips OR leaders with critical management skills
More than 1,500 registrants from the perioperative nursing community representing 49 states and 10 countries gathered in Long Beach, California, in September for the 27th annual OR Manager Conference. Attendees chose from an education menu of preconference seminars, general sessions, and breakout sessions, as well as numerous company-sponsored CE programs.…
Editorial
If you skipped this year's OR Manager conference, you missed an opportunity to learn about the evolution of healthcare delivery and the changes you should be making at your facility. Improving the patient’s experience of care was an underlying theme. We’ve all heard about the shift from volume-based to value-based…
Free Daily News
- HCA Healthcare reports solid first-quarter financials
- Per-person healthcare spending grows nearly 19% in 5 years
- OR Manager Conference: Lowest rates expire in one week
- Hospitals boost cybersecurity budgets, staff
- Kentucky passes first-ever state law decriminalizing medical mistakes
- Kaiser Permanente data breach affects 13.4 million
- Study explores link between diverticulitis and colorectal cancer
- State lawmakers target rising healthcare costs via legislation on hospital facility fees
- FDA medical device Class 1 recalls trend upward
- Data cast doubt on recommendation to delay weight-loss meds prior to surgery