There is no shortage of advice, opinions, and proposed solutions when it comes to staff shortages, but the issue continues to plague healthcare systems nonetheless. For a couple of years now, speakers at the OR Business Management Conference and OR Manager Conference have been asking attendees, “Who still struggles to…

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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 UnitedHealth Group (UHG) is in early talks to potentially acquire Surgery Partners, the third-largest operator of ambulatory surgical centers (ASCs) in the US, according to Bloomberg, Healthcare Finance August 26 reports. Surgery Partners has also attracted interest from private equity firms, including TPG Inc. While no deal is…

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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 Combining dexterity and cost-effectiveness, handheld robotic devices offer potential to bridge the gap between traditional laparoscopy and more expensive robotic platforms, researchers concluded August 8 in the journal Surgery. The mini-review of clinical trials covered clinical applications of three handheld robotic devices: the HandX powered laparoscopic instrument from…

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Editor's Note A shuttered bariatric surgery center in Oklahoma last month is just one example of how the rise of Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonists are reshaping health systems’ investments, Axios reported August 13. Rather than “massive hospital towers with cardiology clinics, dialysis beds and joint replacement centers,” the focus is…

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Editor's Note As healthcare continues to transition from inpatient to outpatient settings, large health systems are increasingly forming partnerships and joint ventures to develop and manage ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs), Becker’s ASC Review August 16 reports. Per the outlet, health systems have historically been hesitant to embrace ASCs due to…

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Editor's Note MD Anderson Cancer Center shared insights on overcoming OR capacity challenges during a session at last year’s OR Manager Conference that highlighted creative solutions to staffing shortages and capacity constraints. With the ongoing pressures exacerbated by COVID-19, which is hitting a peak this summer, MD Anderson has implemented…

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Editor's Note A bill in California that aims to increase oversight of private equity healthcare investments is receiving support from consumer advocates, labor unions, and the California Medical Association and opposition from hospitals worried about losing funding sources, the Los Angeles Times reported August 9. Sponsored by Attorney General Rob…

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Editor's Note Extensive training and lower wages lead healthcare workers to accrue more debt than those in other industries, according to a recent analysis published in JAMA Health Forum.  Findings were based on 2018-2021 data from U.S. Census Bureau’s Survey of Income and Program Participation. According to an August 5…

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