Editor's Note A recent report in Becker’s Hospital Review illuminated health systems’ efforts to address physician shortage by integrating advanced practice providers (APPs) into care models. Citing projections from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Becker’s noted that nurse practitioners (NPs) “are the fastest-growing occupation in the country, with employment in…

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Editor's Note Healthcare employment in the US rose by 54,000 from October to November, according to the latest report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), released December 6, a figure “in line” with the average monthly gain of 59,000 over the prior 12 months.  Total nonfarm employment rose by…

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Editor's Note Data show nearly half of rural hospitals categorized as high-risk financially improved their stability after mergers, acquisitions, or affiliations (M&A) with larger health systems, Fierce Healthcare reported December 2. Conducted by Dobson DaVanzo & Associates and commissioned by the Coalition to Strengthen America’s Healthcare, the analysis found that 110…

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Editor's Note The American Medical Association (AMA) expressed “strong opposition” to a proposed regulation in Washington, DC, that would allow certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) to use the title “nurse anesthesiologist.” As detailed in a December 2 announcement, a letter to the DC Department of Health from AMA CEO James…

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Editor's Note A scoping review of 15 studies reveals that the COVID-19 pandemic significantly disrupted oncological abdominal surgery (OAS), leading to postponed or canceled procedures, adoption of alternative treatment plans, and increased psychological stress among surgical teams. Published November 5 in the American Journal of Surgery, the findings emphasize the…

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Editor's Note A study analyzing data from the National Database of Nursing Quality Indicators (NDNQI) revealed that nursing-sensitive quality indicators (NSIs) worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic and remain elevated years after the onset of the pandemic, reflecting ongoing challenges in nursing practice. Published in the journal Nursing Research, the findings…

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Editor's Note Neeraja Kikkeri, DDS, CEO of North Texas Team Care Surgery Center, drew on her unique perspective as a mother of five to guide her leadership in the demanding field of ambulatory surgery center (ASC) management. On November 14, she shared with D Magazine five strategies for fostering a…

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Takeaways • The 3A Strategic Thinking Framework and the GOST Framework are examples of tools that can help make the abstract process of strategic thinking more concrete for perioperative leaders. • Carving out dedicated time for planning and fostering strategic thinking in others are important to achieve optimal results. •…

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Takeaways • Documentation and coding procedures are rife with opportunity for cost savings. • Passed in 2022, the No Surprises Act is designed to protect insured patients from surprise billing for emergency services from out-of-network providers. However, the result has been nearly 40% cuts in reimbursements to anesthesiologists. • OR…

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How should responsibilities associated with C-sections be divided between the OR team and the OB/GYN department at a staff-strapped rural hospital? This was just one of many questions I had never considered prior to attending the 2024 OR Manager Conference, which drew perioperative professionals to the MGM Grand in Las…

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