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 US hospitals continue to face a shortage of intravenous (IV) fluids due to Hurricane-related damage to the Baxter manufacturing facility that was responsible for 60% of the nation’s supply, MedPage Today reported December 31. Citing a report from Baxter, the article notes that the manufacturer has restored eight…

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Perioperative leaders are entering a time of uncertainty after 2024 proved to be transformative for inpatient and outpatient surgical care. Last year saw important updates from The Joint Commission and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) that emphasized improvements alongside ongoing challenges in safety, workforce shortages, reimbursement, and…

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Data is collected everywhere, from what we click online to whether we run a red light to how many steps we take each day. There is power in data. When leveraged effectively, data reveal patterns, insights, behaviors, and other potentially actionable intelligence. It stands to reason that data would be…

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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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Editor's Note Psilocybin therapy significantly reduces symptoms of depression in frontline clinicians who experienced psychological distress during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a randomized clinical trial published December 5 in JAMA Network Open.   The trial enrolled 30 clinicians, including physicians, advanced practice practitioners (APPs), and nurses, who provided frontline care…

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