Editor's Note The Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI) has released the updated AAMI TIR17:2024; Compatibility of Materials Subject to Sterilization, its first revision since 2017. This guidance provides essential information for medical device manufacturers, designers, and sterilization professionals on how sterilization methods impact materials and packaging. Updates…

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Editor's Note A study published in JAMA Surgery revealed that hospitals owned by private equity firms had significantly worse outcomes for esophagectomy patients compared to non-acquired hospitals. As detailed in a January 2 report on the findings in MedPage Today, the analysis of over 9,000 cases highlights disparities in 30-day…

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Editor's Note Black patients are less likely to receive surgery at hospitals with the lowest mortality rates despite living closer to these facilities, according to a new study examining Medicare patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) from 2017 to 2019. Authors suggest that physician referral patterns may play a…

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Editor's Note Computational fluid dynamics (CFD), a technique historically used in engineering, is transforming pediatric cardiac surgery at Boston Children's Hospital, Healthcare IT News reported January 2. This approach aims to enhance surgical precision and reduce the need for repeat operations in children with congenital heart defects. Traditionally, pediatric heart…

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Editor's Note Between 2018 and 2024, ransomware attacks on US healthcare organizations compromised nearly 89 million patient records and resulted in downtime costing an estimated total of $21.9 billion, according to a December 18 report from Comparitech. The report tallies 654 total ransomware incidents during this period targeting hospitals, clinics,…

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Editor's Note A significant increase in the use of neoadjuvant systemic cancer therapies is among the most notable findings from the first annual cancer report from The American College of Surgeons (ACS) National Cancer Database (NCDB). The report also emphasizes the value of early detection, innovative therapies, and robust datasets…

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Editor's Note Immigration and trade policies proposed by President-elect Donald Trump could exacerbate challenges with healthcare staff and medical supply chains, according to recent reporting from Modern Healthcare and The Hill. As detailed by Modern Healthcare, stricter immigration policies could impede efforts to recruit skilled international workers, exacerbating gaps in…

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Takeaways • Visual management (VM) tools support Lean efforts, leading to improved quality and efficiency. • VM boards provide an overview of processes, facilitate problem solving, and promote staff-manager collaboration. • Other VM tools such as color coding and customized instrument trays can help reduce errors and save money. Lean…

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What happens when a surgeon uses the monopolar instrument set on 30-W coagulation mode to create an upper midline incision in a patient with a pacemaker? Pacemaker function is interrupted, causing a heart block that results in hemodynamic instability—or at least, this is what could happen without taking the necessary…

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Stem cell therapy is poised to revolutionize regenerative medicine. As these therapies advance, they may alter or even replace certain invasive surgical procedures. Already undergoing advanced clinical trials, orthopedic applications are likely candidates for attracting the earliest adopters. Results so far indicate significant potential for providing alternatives to implants, grafts,…

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