Perioperative leaders face mounting pressures to optimize resources, reduce costs, and improve patient outcomes. However, one challenge stands out among the rest: OR staffing shortages. According to a November/December survey conducted by LeanTaaS in collaboration with OR Manager, staff recruitment and retention is a top priority for OR leaders this…

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Editor's Note At last year’s OR Manager Conference, Kelly Kapp, RN, CNOR, CNAMB, clinical education director at SCA Health, discussed the successful development and implementation of the Perioperative 101 (Periop 101) training program for nurses at SCA facilities. The initiative had the goal of mitigating the nursing shortage while improving…

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Editor's Note The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Amneal Pharmaceuticals' Abbreviated New Drug Application for single-dose vials of propofol injectable emulsion, Anesthesiology News August 23 reports. The newly approved formulations include 200 mg/20 mL, 500 mg/50 mL, and 1,000 mg/100 mL vials. Propofol is widely used for anesthesia and…

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Editor's Note Clinicians managing surgical patients on direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) should adopt a different approach depending on the procedure, according to research published August 12 in JAMA Network. Used to treat patients with atrial fibrillation and venous thromboembolism, DOACs must be managed effectively to minimize risks of bleeding, researchers…

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Editor's Note An S&P report published on August 7 revealed that downgrades of nonprofit hospital ratings outpaced upgrades in 2023, a trend expected to persist despite a slowing pace, Becker’s Hospital CFO Report August 12 reports. The report, which analyzed nonprofit acute healthcare medians, showed a downgrade-to-upgrade ratio of 3.8…

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Editor's Note A 2016 recall issued for the Abbott MitraClip cardiac device highlighted potential safety concerns, but instead of removing the product from the market, Abbott and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) allowed continued use with revised instructions and additional training for doctors. This approach reflects a broader trend…

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Editor's Note The “surgical pause”—a means of validating whether surgery is truly safe for patients deemed to be “frail” before starting a procedure—significantly reduces mortality rates and is changing practices at more than 50 Veterans Administration (VA) hospitals, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported August 18. Developed by VA surgeons Daniel Hall…

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Editor's Note Contradicting previous research suggesting potentially improved surgical outcomes for female surgeons, the largest analysis to date finds that gender has only a small statistical, clinically marginal correlation. Appearing in the September issue of Annals of Surgery, the study involved 4,882,784 patients operated on by 11,955 female surgeons (33%…

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Editor's Note Recent research sheds new light on addressing two of the most pressing problems for surgical care: handoff communication failures and care bias and inequities leading to adverse—and preventable—events.   These problems are the subjects of two separate success stories in the August issue of The Joint Commission Journal…

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Editor's Note Finalists have been announced for the OR Manager awards, an annual program that shines a well-deserved spotlight on the visionary nurse leaders tasked with optimizing workflows, building cohesive teams, and relentlessly advocating for the safety of surgical patients in fast-paced perioperative environments.   The three awards—OR Manager of…

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