Editor's Note This study from the University of Colorado Hospital, Centennial, found that the five primary high touch surfaces in the OR (in order) are: anesthesia computer mouse OR bed nurse computer mouse OR door anesthesia cart. The study also demonstrated that low touch areas were less contaminated than high…

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Editor's Note The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on November 1 released a final rule that revises the hospital outpatient prospective payment system (OPPS) and ambulatory surgical center (ASC) payment system for CY 2017. According to the rule, hospital off-campus facilities will no longer be paid the same…

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Editor's Note The Leapfrog Group on October 31 released it’s biannual hospital safety report card. Of 2,812 facilities graded, 844 received an A grade, 658 received a B, 954 received a C, 157 received a D, and 20 received an F. According to Leapfrog, the measures used by Leapfrog, Medicare,…

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Editor's Note Use of the Perioperative Surgical Home (PSH) model in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis undergoing posterior spinal fusion improved surgical outcomes, this study finds. A multidisciplinary group created evidence-based protocols for preoperative, postoperative, and postdischarge patient care. Anesthesiologist comanagement of patients also allowed a new pathway for patients…

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Editor's Note The American College of Surgeons (ACS) on October 31 announced a new initiative to improve the knowledge and management of pain in surgical patients, with a focus on opioid risks and non-opioid alternatives. The initiative, titled, “Opioids and Surgery: Use, Abuse, and Alternatives,” will encompass the following: evidence-based…

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Editor's Note The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in October announced new targets for reducing healthcare associated infections (HAIs) in acute care hospitals. The new targets are part of the agency’s "National Action Plan to Prevent Health Care-Associated Infections: Road Map to Elimination." The targets use data…

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Editor's Note A study by Duke University researchers, which followed 40 ICU nurses, found 22 cases in which at least one of five drug-resistant bacteria was transmitted from the patient or the room to the nurse’s scrubs or from the patient to the room. The study was presented October 27 at…

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Editor's Note Patient level factors dominated the increased readmission risks after colorectal surgery at minority-serving hospitals, while hospital factors were less contributory, this study finds. Patient factors accounted for 65% of the increase in odds for readmission, and hospital-level factors accounted for 40%. Inpatient mortality was significantly greater at minority-serving…

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Editor's Note The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS NSQIP) on October 28 recognized 60 of 603 participating hospitals for achieving meritorious outcomes in surgical patient care in 2015. The recognition program commends a select group of hospitals for achieving a meritorious composite score that is…

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Editor's Note On-pump and off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) are equally safe and effective, this study finds. At 5 years there was no significant difference between on-pump and off-pump CABG in combined rates of death, stroke, myocardial infarction, renal failure, or subsequent revascularization procedures (23.6% vs 23.1%). There also…

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