Editor's Note The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on October 11 released as report showing progress by hospitals in reducing healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). The report shows hospitals reduced: abdominal hysterectomy surgical site infections (SSIs) by 13% central line-associated bloodstream infections by 11% Clostridium difficile infections by 8% catheter-associated…

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Editor's Note Organizational support initiatives and authentic leadership training for nurse leaders reduced bullying among licensed practical nurses (LPNs) in this study. A survey was sent to a random sample of 855 LPNs that was drawn from a total of 4,306 in a Midwestern state; 168 usable questionnaires were returned…

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Editor's Note The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on October 9 announced that 1,299 healthcare providers are participating in its new Bundled Payments for Care Improvement−Advanced model, which began October 1 and will continue until December 31, 2023. The program includes 32 bundled clinical episodes (29 inpatient, 3…

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Editor's Note In this study, a preoperative, patient-centered wellness program significantly reduced hospital acquired infections in surgical patients at an academic medical center. A total of 12,396 surgical patients were given a wellness bundle in a roller bag during preoperative screening. The bundle included chlorhexidine bath solution, immuno-nutrition supplements, an…

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Editor's Note The Joint Commission announced October 10 that accredited, deemed-status ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) will no longer be required to collect data on medical necessity and appropriateness of procedures (PI.01.01.01, EP 21), effective July 1, 2019. The Joint Commission developed the performance improvement (PI) standard to align with the…

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Editor's Note In this study, the composition of the anesthesia care team (anesthesiologist plus nurse anesthetist or anesthesiologist assistant) was not associated with any significant differences in mortality, length of stay, or inpatient spending. Of 443,098 Medicare beneficiaries who had inpatient surgery between 2004 and 2011, the adjusted mortality for…

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Editor's Note The Society of Anesthesia and Sleep Medicine (SASM) has issued a new guideline on Intraoperative Management of Adult Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). Specific aims of the guideline are to: evaluate considerations of difficult airway management in patients with OSA assess the impact of anesthesia-related drugs and…

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Editor's Note This study from the University of Texas El Paso School of Nursing finds that students who were exposed to a higher number of adverse childhood experiences (eg, abuse, neglect, family dysfunction) had higher levels of burnout and depression. A survey of 211 students enrolled in the first semester…

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Editor's Note Rebecca Wiseman, PhD, RN, associate professor and chair of the University of Maryland School of Nursing at the Universities at Shady Grove, has been awarded a grant to establish the Maryland Nursing Workforce Center at the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB), according to an October 8 news release.…

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Editor's Note In patients with American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status I and II, the risk of 30-day morbidity and mortality was similar for those who had blood testing shortly before surgery and those whose testing was done up to 2 months before surgery, this study finds. Of 235,010 patients…

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