Tag: Quality

CMS plan to phase out inpatient only list sparks debate over safety for vulnerable patients

Editor's Note The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is moving to eliminate its Inpatient Only (IPO) List over the next 3 years, a decision that could permanently shift more surgical procedures from hospitals to outpatient settings. According to an August 24 article from Fierce Healthcare, the policy promises…

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By: Tarsilla Moura
September 2, 2025
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Nurse leaders weigh in on NCLEX pass rate decline, impact on workforce readiness

Editor's Note The NCLEX pass rate for RNs fell sharply in early 2025, but many nurse leaders see the drop as temporary rather than cause for alarm, Becker’s Hospital Review August 12 reports. The first-quarter pass rate declined to 71.6%, compared with 79.1% in the same period of 2024. The…

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By: Tarsilla Moura
August 28, 2025
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Artificial disc replacement proves safe, efficient, cost-saving in outpatient spine surgery

Editor's Note Artificial disc replacement (ADR) in the cervical spine can be performed safely, efficiently, and cost-effectively in outpatient/ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs), Ortho Spine News July 31 reports. The article details research from Steven J. Girdler, MD, of DISC Surgery Center, who reviewed 6 years of data from 1,043 patients…

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By: Tarsilla Moura
August 20, 2025
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Mind the gap: Why Medicare pays ASCs less than HOPDs—and what that means

For decades, ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) have shown their ability to deliver high-quality surgical care at substantially lower cost than hospital outpatient departments (HOPDs). ASCs achieve these savings through leaner operations, streamlined staffing models, and specialty-focused efficiencies, not by compromising safety or outcomes. Studies consistently highlight procedures performed in ASCs…

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By: Tarsilla Moura
August 19, 2025
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Socioeconomic deprivation linked to lower fitness before surgery, UK study finds

Editor's Note Patients from socioeconomically deprived areas are more likely to have reduced cardiorespiratory fitness before surgery, potentially contributing to poorer surgical outcomes, MedicalXpress August 12 reports from a study published by PLOS One. The research, led by PhD student Donna Shrestha of Lancaster University Medical School, analyzed preoperative fitness…

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By: Tarsilla Moura
August 14, 2025
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Centralized sterile processing cuts costs, complexity for four ASCs

Once limited to hospital inpatient settings, total joint surgery is increasingly common at ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) across the US. What is not so common is performing these complex procedures without the benefit of an onsite sterile processing department (SPD). And yet, that is exactly what we have accomplished at…

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By: Emily Arce and Lacey Dyer
August 13, 2025
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Centralized sterile processing: An ASC's journey to offsite sterilization

Editor’s Note: This page is a companion piece to the main article, Centralized sterile processing cuts costs, complexity for four ASCs.    Implementing offsite sterilization is a major project. At Total Joint Specialists, our journey began gradually, growing in scope over time as the team became comfortable with the process…

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By: Emily Arce, Lacey Dyer
August 13, 2025
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FDA announces Class 1 recall for Draeger breathing filters

Editor's Note The FDA has issued a Class 1 recall—the most severe category indicating risk of serious injury or death—for Draeger Filter SafeStar 90 Plus (MP05785), Filter SafeStar 55 Plus (MP05790), Filter SafeStar 60A Plus (MP05795), and Filter/HME TwinStar HEPA Plus (MP05801) breathing system filters, affecting all lot numbers. Draeger…

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By: Matt Danford
August 13, 2025
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Hospital CEO departures surge, boards turn to interim leadership

Editor's Note Hospital CEO turnover climbed 3% in the first half of 2025, with organizations shifting toward interim appointments as financial and regulatory pressures intensify leadership changes, according to an August 5 article in HealthLeaders. Citing data from Challenger, Gray & Christmas, the outlet reports that hospitals recorded 68 CEO…

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By: Matt Danford
August 13, 2025
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Robotic surgery shows better outcomes in select emergency colorectal cases, poised for wider use

Editor's Note Robotic-assisted surgery is proving to be a strong option for emergency colorectal procedures, offering lower complication rates, shorter hospital stays, and fewer conversions to open surgery than conventional approaches. According to a July 23 article from the Journal of the American College of Surgeons, this approach—long established in…

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By: Tarsilla Moura
August 12, 2025
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