Editor's Note The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on February 7 announced that it had cleared the updated design and labeling for Pentax Medical's duodenoscope Model ED-3490TK. Pentax replaced the forceps elevator mechanism, O-ring seal, and distal end cap, and updated the Operation Manual to recommend annual maintenance. The design…

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Editor's Note Implementation of an enhanced recovery pathway (ERP) for colorectal surgical patients substantially reduced length of stay, total hospital costs, and direct pharmacy costs without increasing complications or readmission rates in this study. The study, which included 160 colorectal patients before ERP was implemented and 146 patients after implementation,…

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Editor's Note The Joint Commission on January 31 announced that a new brochure is available to help healthcare organizations inform patients about healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) and prevention. The brochure, titled, “For Our Patients and Their Visitors: Help Prevent Infections,” is derived from the resource, “Compendium of Strategies to Prevent Healthcare-Associated…

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Editor's Note The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on January 31 classified the recall by Vyaire Medical (Mettawa, Illinois) of its AirLife Humidification Chamber and Heated Breathing Circuit Kits as Class I, the most serious. The recall was initiated because of a manufacturing error that may cause parts of the…

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Editor's Note Implementation of stringent OR attire policies that include full coverage of ears and facial hair do not reduce surgical site infection (SSI) rates, finds this study. Researchers compared National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) data from all patients having surgery 9 months before implementation (3,077) to 3,440 patients…

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Editor's Note The Joint Commission reported on January 31 that it had confirmed with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) that organizations are required to have two exercises of their emergency operations plan annually. Among the organizations to which the requirement applies are: deemed hospitals critical access hospitals…

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Editor's Note Healthcare employment in the US rose in January to a seasonally adjusted 15,888,400 workers, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported on February 2. That’s 20,600 more workers than in December and 294,900 more than a year ago. ESTABLISHMENT DATA Table B-1. Employees on nonfarm payrolls by industry sector…

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Editor's Note Each month, OR Manager presents a mix of leadership, business, regulatory, and clinical topics. Upcoming issues will feature news from both the 2017 OR Manager Conference and the 2018 OR Business Management Conference. In the March issue, we’ll explore: ways to avoid staff shortages leadership strategies to engage…

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Editor's Note Changes in healthcare provider payment models, regulations, and standards, along with new individual insurance plans, are among the factors that have increased the complexity of managing the OR. Attending the annual OR Business Management Conference (ORBMC) is a great way to start each new year—it provides a multitude…

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Editor's Note A new book, Dollar$ and $ense: Using Data-Driven Business Models to Boost the Bottom Line, will soon be published. This must-have resource is a compilation of OR Manager articles focusing on data analytics, financial management, reimbursement, technology, and trends in ambulatory surgery. The articles reflect industry trends and…

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