Editor's Note A standardized process of dose, duration, and timing for preoperative showers with 4% chlorhexidine gluconate maximizes the benefit of the shower as an effective risk reduction strategy for surgical site infections, finds this study. The process includes: 118 mL of aqueous 4% chlorhexidine gluconate per shower a minimum…

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Editor's Note Patients age 90 years and older with aortic stenosis can benefit from transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), this study finds. TAVR patients had a comparable risk of mortality as those who did not have the procedure, and quality of life improved within 6 months.  

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Editor's Note Total knee and total hip arthroplasties are associated with a substantially increased risk of myocardial infarction during the first postoperative month, finds this study. The MI risk gradually declined overtime, but the risk for venous thromboembolism remained years after the procedure. The study included 40,000 patients, half of…

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Editor's Note The gap in Medicare reimbursement rates between ASCs and hospital outpatient departments continues to grow, the Wisconsin Health News reports. Reimbursement rates for hospital outpatient departments are updated using the hospital market basket, but rates for ASCs are updated with the consumer price index. The result is that…

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Editor's Note The risk of adverse outcomes in patients having elective daytime surgical procedures was similar whether the surgeon performed surgery the night before or not, this study finds. There were no significant differences in patient mortality, readmission, or complications when surgeons worked after midnight, compared to when surgeons did…

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Editor's Note The Joint Commission reviewed 9,119 sentinel events from 1995 through the second quarter of 2015. They included: 1,162—wrong-patient, wrong-site, wrong-procedure 1,037—unintended retention of a foreign body 1,013—delay in treatment 884—op/postop complication 228—medical-equipment related 182—infection-related event 130—fire 109—anesthesia-related event.  

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Editor's Note The Joint Commission has identified five requirements for accreditation that healthcare organizations were most frequently found as “non compliant” during surveys and reviews from January 1 to June 30, 2015. They are: Laboratory and Point-of-Care Testing QSA.01.01.01: The laboratory participates in Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services approved…

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Editor's Note Seniors are much more likely than younger patients to be admitted to the hospital after ambulatory surgery, this study finds. Of more than 53,000 patients analyzed, those aged 65 and older were 54% more likely to be admitted to the hospital within 30 days of ambulatory surgery than…

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Editor's Note Only 97 of 353 Medicare accountable care organizations (ACOs) met targets for quality and slowed spending enough to earn bonuses in 2014, Modern Healthcare reports. This is a continuation of mixed results for the ACO initiative that the Obama administration has targeted for rapid expansion through 2018. The…

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Editor's Note The Food and Drug Administration on August 27 categorized a recall of the Alaris Syringe Pump (model number 8110) by CareFusion as Class I, the most serious. An error in the pump triggers a visual and audible alarm that causes the pump to stop supplying the infusion to…

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