Tag: Substance Abuse

Violence in healthcare facilities--Know your risks

Violence is much more common in healthcare than in other industries, and although many violent events in healthcare are perpetrated by patients, a notable percentage are not. Individuals other than patients who may cause violence in healthcare settings include family members of patients and other visitors, employees, and criminals. Many…

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By: OR Manager
November 15, 2017
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Bariatric surgery patients at risk for new prolonged opioid use

Editor's Note Bariatric surgery patients have a much higher rate of newly persistent postoperative opioid use than general surgery patients, finds this study presented October 23 at the American College of Surgeons 2017 Clinical Congress in San Diego. Of 14,063 bariatric surgery patients in the Michigan Bariatric Surgery Collaborative who…

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By: Judy Mathias
October 24, 2017
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Opioid-free general anesthesia reduces postop nausea

Editor's Note Eliminating opioids from general anesthesia is safe and effective and significantly decreases postoperative nausea, finds this study presented October 23 at the Anesthesiology 2017 annual meeting in Boston. Of 1,009 patients who received general anesthesia without opioids, only 11% experienced postoperative nausea--typically 50% to 80% of patients have…

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By: Judy Mathias
October 24, 2017
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Joint Commission issues R3 Report on pain assessment and management standards for hospitals

Editor's Note The Joint Commission has issued a new R3 Report to help accredited hospitals better understand and comply with its new and revised pain management standards, which are effective January 1, 2018. This R3 Report provides in-depth rationale, references, and evidence used in the development of the new and…

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By: Judy Mathias
August 30, 2017
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Long-term opioid use rarely starts with surgery

Editor's Note The initial event associated with exposure to prescription opioids is often thought to be an injury or surgical procedure, but this study finds that opioid use rarely starts with surgical procedures. Of 117,118 patients with sustained prescription opioid use who were analyzed, just 800 (0.7%) received their initial…

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By: Judy Mathias
August 23, 2017
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New protocol helps identify signs of burnout

Editor's Note Inspired by aviation and medical best practices for handling crises, researchers have developed a Stress-APGAR protocol to help managers anticipate burnout in employees, according to the April 26 Harvard Business Review. The Stress-APGAR acronym includes five key areas: Appearance: How does the employee look−overly tired, changes in weight,…

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By: Judy Mathias
May 1, 2017
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Burnout increases after patient safety incident

Editor's Note Physicians and nurses involved in a patient safety incident experience significant negative outcomes, this study finds. Of 5,788 nurses and physicians analyzed, 9% had been involved in an incident during the prior 6 months. Involvement in a patient safety incident was linked to: a greater risk of burnout…

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By: Judy Mathias
September 15, 2016
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Shoulder surgery new testing ground for opioid alternatives

Editor's Note As part of the drive to reduce opioid use, rotator-cuff repairs are becoming a testing ground for alternative approaches to pain management, the May 23 Wall Street Journal reports. Because rotator-cuff surgery is one of the most painful procedures to recover from, physicians hope that if alternative painkilling…

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By: Judy Mathias
May 26, 2016
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Surgical patients at Denver hospital possibly exposed to HIV, hepatitis

Editor's Note Denver's Swedish Medical Center is asking some 2,900 surgical patients to get tested for HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C after finding that an OR employee may have stolen narcotics, the February 3 Denver Post reports. Surgical technologist, 28-year-old Rocky Allen worked in the OR from August 17,…

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By: Judy Mathias
February 8, 2016
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Drug diversion in the OR: How can you keep it from happening?

It's every OR manager's nightmare—a drug diversion that hits the local news. That nightmare came true for 2 Colorado facilities—Rose Medical Center in Denver and Audubon Surgery Center in Colorado Springs— this year when scrub tech Kristen Diane Parker was accused of not only stealing fentanyl, but also of transmitting…

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By: Cynthia Saver, RN, MS
December 1, 2009
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