FDA clears handheld robotic system for ultrasound-guided needle procedures
Editor's Note Mendaera has received US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearance for its Focalist system, a compact robotic device that aims to improve precision in ultrasound-guided needle-based procedures. Fierce Biotech reported the news July 9. As detailed in the article, Focalist device is intended to assist with a range…
Mobile ORs can change the game, bridge gaps in surgical care
Imagine an innovative, safe, and highly efficient OR not confined by walls but on wheels—crossing rugged terrains, bustling cities, and disaster-stricken areas to deliver life-saving surgical care in underserved areas. That is the premise and promise of mobile ORs. They are not just mobile units. With some of the technological…
Robot surgery spans continents in FDA-backed trial
Editor's Note A Florida-based surgeon successfully performed a prostate cancer surgery on a patient in Angola—7,000 miles away—marking a major milestone in transcontinental robotic telesurgery, according to a June 17 article from ABC News. The procedure, conducted by Dr. Vipul Patel of Advent Health’s Global Robotic Institute, is reportedly the…
Telesurgery possibilities becoming more than remote
Remote surgery has come a long way since the first-ever case in 2001, when a surgeon in New York City operated on a patient in Strasbourg, France. No longer a product of science fiction, telesurgery’s advance promises to change—and save—countless lives, from patients in remote areas to those in warzones…
Preadmission clinics drive better surgical outcomes, lower costs, fewer cancellations
Editor's Note Preadmission clinics (PACs) are supporting perioperative care by reducing complications, shortening hospital stays, and improving surgical outcomes—particularly for high-risk patients. As detailed in the April 2025 edition of ASA Monitor from the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA), PACs operate as multidisciplinary outpatient hubs where medical optimization, risk assessment,…
Telemedicine transforms postoperative care through safer, faster, patient-centered recovery
Editor's Note Telemedicine is rapidly becoming the standard for postoperative care, offering patients a safer, more convenient recovery experience without compromising clinical outcomes, according to an April 28 report in the Los Angeles Times. The outlet emphasizes that virtual consultations and remote monitoring are no longer just alternatives to in-person…
Mentorship keeps newer nurses from scrubbing out
Starting a new job can be stressful for anyone, but nursing comes with a particular set of pressures. A 2024 survey of 6,000 nurses from the American Nurses Association (ANA), in partnership with McKinsey and Company, found that an astonishing 45% of early-tenure nurses reported they were somewhat likely to…
Videos digitize, automate preoperative, postoperative care
Immersed in texts, apps, QR codes, and streaming videos, we live in a digital world. And yet, healthcare has been slow to catch up. Most nurses and other staff still hand out packets of paper and relay information verbally, whether in person or over the phone. It does not have…
Study: COVID-19's impact on oncological surgery offers lessons for future crises
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…
Telehealth, virtual care enhance perioperative efficiency
Eliminating physical distance as a barrier to communication makes it easier for caretakers to help not only their patients, but also one another. This is the promise of virtual care technology, which offers system-wide potential for providers facing growing demand for high-quality, cost-effective care. For perioperative leaders specifically, advantages of…
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