Tim Porter-O’Grady, DM, EdD, ScD(h), APRN, FAAN, will be the keynote speaker at this year’s OR Manager Conference, which takes place September 17-19 at the Long Beach Convention Center in Long Beach, California. The conference features 4 tracks—ambulatory surgery centers, business management, a masters series, and new manager—designed to address…

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Efforts to increase patient safety have been successful in some areas, but less so in others—notably, postoperative outcomes—according to a recent study. Researchers who analyzed Medicare Patient Safety Monitoring System data for the period 2005 through 2011 found declines in adverse event rates for patients hospitalized because of acute myocardial…

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By 2020, 80% of RNs should have a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) degree, according to recommendations made by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) in 2010. Responses to the 2013 OR Manager Annual Salary/Career Survey showed that almost half of OR directors and managers have a master’s degree and…

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Early indications are that the South Carolina Safe Care Commitment project, though still in its infancy, holds promise for increasing the reliability of healthcare in that state (cover story). Certainly the progress made thus far supports the framework put forth by the Joint Commission in 2013 to help all healthcare…

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As the holiday season approaches, I’m aware that it will soon be time for my annual review—not only my job performance but also my personal goals. I’ve long had a tradition of reflecting on each year’s milestones and continuing the practices that serve me best. I consider this process “evolution”…

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Perioperative nurse leaders from across the US and other countries packed the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center at National Harbor, Maryland, to participate in the 26th annual OR Manager Conference held September 23 to 25. Approximately 1,000 attendees heard a wide range of talks, met with poster presenters, networked…

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It’s too soon to measure the success or failure of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which was signed into law in 2010 but is just beginning to be implemented... sort of. Enrollment in health insurance exchanges got off to a rocky start on October 1 because of technological problems, and…

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Despite increasingly stiff penalties, health care-associated infections persist. Total annual costs for the 5 major health care-associated infections are $9.8 billion, say researchers led by Eyal Zimlichman, MD, of the Center for Patient Safety Research and Practice at Brigham & Women’s Hospital in Boston. Surgical site infections rack up about…

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The economy continues to present staffing and budgetary challenges, our annual staffing survey finds; little has changed since the 2008 recession despite slightly better overall conditions (see cover story). Perioperative leaders report they’ve had to reduce overtime, eliminate open positions, and tell staff to take time off without pay in…

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Letters nominating Pamela Smith, BSN, RN, CNOR, as the 2013 OR Manager of the Year described her as a leader who has supported her staff and their decisions, an advocate for education, and a clinical manager who “drives quality and efficiency while balancing high patient and staff satisfaction scores.” Smith,…

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