Editor's Note A Navigant analysis of survey data from the Healthcare Financial Management Association finds that hospital executives are facing continued shortages of physicians, nurses, and mental health providers in the coming years, and they will be focusing on labor and supply chain productivity to reduce hospital operating expenses, the…

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Editor's Note A team of researchers from the University of British Columbia used enzymes from bacteria in the human gut to remove antigens from AB, A, and B blood, which effectively turns the blood into universal donor type O,  according to the August 21 bigthink.com. The team reported their findings…

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Editor's Note A multidisciplinary group gathered at an Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality conference to develop a research agenda that includes immediately actionable and long-term research strategies to mitigate the emotional toll of harmful medical events on patients and families. The group reached consensus on four research priorities: Establish…

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Editor's Note The Joint Commission announced on August 22 that several revisions will be implemented to the Medication Compounding Certification program and Home Care Accreditation program’s Medication Compounding chapter, effective January 1, 2019. The revisions were made to maintain consistency with current United States Pharmacopeia (USP) 795 (Pharmaceutical Compounding−Nonsterile Preparations)…

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Editor's Note WiseGuyReports predicts the global market for hip and knee surgical implants will reach more than $12 billion by 2021, the August 21 Becker’s Spine Review reports. Three companies dominate the market: Zimmer Biomet, Stryker, and DePuy Synthes.

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Editor's Note A safe and efficient postoperative telemedicine program is feasible using a commonly used electronic health record system (Epic), and it can improve patient satisfaction, optimize throughput, and increase revenue, this pilot study finds. After researchers constructed an eClinic platform in Epic, they enrolled 233 patients having laparoscopic cholecystectomy,…

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Editor's Note Though the effects of healthcare associated infections (HAIs) vary, patients recount similar experiences in this review study. A total of 17 studies from 5 countries addressing 5 types of HAIs were analyzed: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, surgical site, Clostridium difficile, Staphylococcus aureus bloodstream, and extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing bacterial infections. Four interrelated themes emerged:…

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Editor's Note In this position paper, three global surgery groups advocate for global surgeons based in US academic healthcare centers. Though 30% of all diseases globally require surgical care and expertise, global surgeons based in academic healthcare centers often face institutional barriers that make it difficult to take time to…

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Editor's Note In this study, researchers at Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, found that physicians and patients alike are dissatisfied with the use of electronic health records (EHRs). Researchers surveyed patients, physicians, mid-level providers, and nonclinical staff at two OB-GYN practices and a regional hospital from 2009 to 2013 during implementation…

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Editor's Note A blood management program at Johns Hopkins using a hemoglobin transfusion threshold of 7 g/dl in orthopedic surgical patients reduced blood use by 32.5% and resulted in similar or improved outcomes. Improved outcomes were primarily in patients 65 years of age or older. For this study, researchers evaluated…

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