OIG warns against using EHRs to block information
Editor's Note An Office of Inspector General (OIG) alert reminds healthcare professionals and hospitals that information blocking in health information technology (IT) is a problem, and steps to prevent interoperability of an electronic health record (EHR) platform or services with other IT systems is not subject to safe harbor protections…
Suicide attempts increase after bariatric surgery
Editor's Note Bariatric surgery patients were at a much higher risk of suicide after surgery than before, in this study. Of 8,815 patients included in the study, 111 had 158 self-harm emergencies during follow-up. Overall, self-harm significantly increased postoperatively (3.63/1,000 patient years) compared with preoperatively (2.33/1,000 patient years). Self-harm emergencies…
Magnet hospitals associated with better patient experience
Editor's Note Magnet recognition is associated with better patient care experiences, which may enhance reimbursement for hospitals, this study finds. Nurse researchers compared 212 Magnet hospitals with 212 non-Magnet hospitals. Patients in Magnet hospitals gave their hospitals higher overall ratings, were more likely to recommend their hospitals, and reported more positive…
Electronic tracking system reduces blood transfusions, infections
Editor's Note An electronic blood tracking system that monitors how physicians prescribe postoperative blood transfusions significantly reduced the amount of blood patients receive and cut infection rates in half, according to a study presented October 7 at the 2015 Clinical Congress of the American College of Surgeons in Chicago. The…
ASCs report high use of Safe Surgery Checklist
Editor's Note The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services on October 8 released data showing that 99% of Medicare-certified ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) use a Safe Surgery Checklist, the ASC Association reports. The data was collected in 2012 and made public on Medicare’s Hospital Compare website. Today, the Centers for…
OR leaders discuss hybrid ORs at OR Manager Conference Town Hall
A highlight of this year’s OR Manager Conference in Nashville, Tennessee, was an interactive hybrid OR exhibit with products from 15 companies. During a special Town Hall on Thursday, October 8, members of the Hybrid OR Steering Committee answered questions from conference attendees seeking information about what’s involved in planning…
Achieving quality improvement depends on the local culture
The key to sustaining quality outcomes is promoting confidence and engagement of surgical teams, says Clifford Ko, MD, MS, MSHS, FACS, director of the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program and Division of Research and Optimal Patient Care, at the American College of Surgeons in Chicago. Dr Ko gave the keynote…
ICD-10 transition begins well, further tests coming
Editor's Note The ICD-10 transition began well last week because of the time and effort spent preparing the new codes, but claims rejections could cause further problems towards the end of the month, according to Modern Healthcare. Organizations most likely to have trouble will be the smaller providers and health…
CMS issues final rules on “meaningful use”
Editor's Note The Centers Medicare & Medicaid Services on October 6 released final rules on “meaningful use” for electronic health records. The rules cover three components of the electronic health records meaningful use program: It finalizes modifications to stages 1 and 2, covers requirements for stage 3, and it addresses the…
ASCs reduce spine surgery costs, maintain quality
Editor's Note A study presented at the Congress of Neurological Surgeons annual meeting found that performing spine procedures in ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) can reduce costs while sustaining patient satisfaction scores, Spine Surgery Today reports. Of 1,000 spine procedures performed in an ASC, eight patients had to be transferred to…
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