In 2020, the World Health Organization focused on promoting nurses to fill the anticipated need for 9 million nurses and midwives to achieve universal health coverage by 2030. The COVID-19 pandemic significantly amplified this pre-existing need. Additionally, the “Great Resignation” has impacted technology and healthcare disproportionally, and the University of…
Many healthcare professionals are aware of single-use device reprocessing and its benefits. According to the Association of Medical Device Reprocessors, the savings generated by such programs can strengthen a facility’s financial sustainability and help provide a path for more responsible environmental stewardship. Sometimes, ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) may experience situations…
Editor's Note Hospitals and healthcare systems across the nation experienced their 10th consecutive month of negative profit margins, according to data Kaufman Hall released in a report on November 30, the American Hospital Association November 30 reports. The report notes that the pressures of increased expenses is a key driver…
Consider the following requests posed to OR scheduling staff by surgeons: • “I need two blocks in different rooms to accommodate my daily case volume.” • “Can’t I just use that empty room to start my next case while the first case is wrapping up?” Surgeon requests like these are…
David Shapiro, MD, who is a risk manager/medical director at several ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) near Tallahassee, Florida, has seen his fair share of contracts with anesthesia services. Navigating these types of contracts at a time when anesthesiology is suffering from a workforce shortage and high costs for services is…
Editor's Note Severe staffing shortages paired with high labor costs are among the most significant challenges faced by hospitals today, according to responses from hospital executives in an October 18 KaufmanHall survey, HealthLeaders October 31 reports. The survey, named the 2022 State of Healthcare Improvement Report, shows that nearly half…
Editor's Note The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on October 31 issued a Medical Device Safety Communication on tracheostomy tube shortages. Included in the shortages are Bivona tracheostomy tubes manufactured by ICU Medical, which are more likely to affect pediatric patients. Also on the shortage list are JOH Tube Tracheostomy…
Editor's Note Becker’s Hospital Review on October 25 reported that the following five hospitals and healthcare systems have announced plans to raise nurses’ pay. The five are: Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Neptune City, New Jersey—union contract pay increase between 8% and 11% UMass Memorial Health, Worcester, Massachusetts—union contract pay…
Editor's Note On October 25, Health Affairs reported that healthcare systems continue to face challenges in a post-pandemic environment but are likely to have the worst financial year in decades, according to Becker’s Hospital CFO Report October 26. US hospitals saw fluctuations in operating margins in 2022 but are still…
Editor's Note In this session, Maria Sullivan, MSN, MMHC, RM, CNOR, OR manager of Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt in Nashville, walked attendees through her journey of renovating the 20-year-old ORs at Monroe Carell. According to Sullivan, here are a few considerations people need to keep in mind…