The highest priority of any health care provider is to ensure patient safety. The single most important tool for preventing errors is the ability to communicate. According to the Joint Commission, the number one cause of sentinel events is a breakdown in communication among the surgical team, patient, and family.…

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A solid orientation is a cornerstone for successful perioperative nursing. Choosing the right candidates and giving them the knowledge and skills to adapt to the surgical environment are essential to safe practice and to retaining staff. The learning curve for perioperative nursing is steeper than ever— 83% of hospitals are…

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A workshop using real clinical narratives helps nurse managers learn about lateral violence at a community hospital in the Northeast. The hospital has also adopted a policy on lateral violence, which is in the early stages of implementation. Donna DeRobbio, RN, MSN, collected the narratives as part of a research…

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The power of teams and a culture of collaboration were themes at the Managing Today's OR Suite conference Oct 3 to 5 in San Diego. The conference attracted 726 attendees for the 2-day conference and 390 for the pre-conference seminars. They visited an exhibit featuring 88 companies. Match peoples' talents…

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A nurse hides a surgeon's favorite instrument when a substitute fills in as the scrub. A circulator does not tell a new nurse who is scrubbed that she knows the shunt the surgeon selected has fallen on the floor. A newly hired RN who was previously a scrub tech is…

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How do you know a nurse is a good fit for the OR—even if the person doesn't have OR experience? There's a body of research that shows that the better the fit between an organization and an employee, the longer the person is likely to stay. Managers often say they…

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Writing to Congress To comment on S 2221, the Transparency in Medical Device Pricing Act of 2007, you can send an e-mail through your Congress member's website. Senators are listed at www.senate.gov. House members are at www.house.gov. To download the bill and check its status, enter the bill number at…

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Getting the right case in the right room at the right time is the goal for every OR director. Often, though, defining how well the OR suite runs depends on whom you ask. The question, "Are my ORs efficient?" could be could be answered with a qualitative approach by administering…

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Surgical count discrepancies occur surprisingly often, in about 1 in 8 general surgery cases in a new study. The counts took an average of 13 minutes to resolve. In 60% of cases, the discrepancy was a misplaced item, such as a sponge on the floor or in the trash. The…

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The temporary staffing agency you use for your ASC assures you it conducts thorough background checks. You decide to hire the accounts receivable clerk sent from the agency. Your prehire background check reveals the clerk spent time in prison for embezzlement. You escort the clerk out the door. Most managers…

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For 2008, ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) generally will be paid at 65% of hospital outpatient department (HOPD) payments, under a final rule issued Nov 1 by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). The rule, effective Jan 1, 2008, sets rates for the first year of the new ASC…

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