Update of strategies to prevent MRSA transmission, infection in acute care hospitals
Editor's Note This expert guidance document, sponsored by the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA), updates the “Strategies to Prevent Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus [MRSA] Transmission and Infection in Acute Care Hospitals” that were published in 2014. Among the updates: Recommendations are now categorized as Essential Practices that should be…
FDA: Class I recall of GE HealthCare’s TruSignal SpO2 sensors
Editor's Note The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), on July 28, identified the recall by GE HealthCare of its TruSignal SpO2 [arterial oxygen saturation] sensors as Class I, the most serious. The recall was initiated because of issues that may reduce the amount of energy sent to the heart during…
OR Manager Conference award nominations deadline extended
Editor's Note Now more than ever is the time to recognize an exceptional leader who develops and supports their staff, fosters teamwork, takes an active role in delivering high quality patient care, and continually makes improvements and remarkable contributions. Do you know a perioperative leader who is making strides to…
University of Tennessee, Baptist Memorial Health Care pilot OR Scholars program
Editor's Note The University of Tennessee Health Science Center’s (UTHSC) College of Nursing announced a collaboration with Baptist Memorial Health Care to pilot an Operating Room Scholars program to address the perioperative nursing shortage on July 27. “The program will fill a critical need and has the potential to create…
Medical confidentiality breaches on Twitter by anesthesiology, intensive care HCWs
Editor's Note This French study examines the rate of medical confidentiality breaches in tweets by anesthesiology and intensive care healthcare workers (HCWs). Data from 431 tweets with photographs and 9,000 text-only tweets from 1,831 accounts were included in the analysis. Among the findings: There were 44 (10.2%) breaches of medical…
Vigorous intermittent physical activity lowers cancer risk
Editor's Note This prospective multi-institutional, multi-country study led by researchers from the University of Sydney, Australia, finds that as few as 4 to 5 minutes of vigorous intermittent physical activity (VILPA) daily is associated with a substantially lower cancer risk. VILPA refers to brief and sporadic (eg, up to 1…
FDA: Class I recall of Abiomed Impella Left Sided Blood Pumps
Editor's Note The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), on July 27, identified the recall by Abiomed of all Impella Left Sided Blood Pumps as Class I, the most serious. Abiomed is recalling the pumps because the instructions for use do not adequately address precautions to take when treating transcatheter aortic…
FDA: Class I recall of Abbott Amplatzer Steerable Delivery Sheath
Editor's Note The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), on July 26, identified the recall by Abbott of its Amplatzer Steerable Delivery Sheath as Class I, the most serious. Abbott is recalling the sheath because of an increased risk for air emboli being introduced into patients who have cardiac catheterization procedures…
Association of telemedicine with direct medical costs
Editor's Note This study from the University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, finds that telemedicine use is associated with lower direct medical costs. A total of 2,938 outpatient department visits and 20,204 office-based visits were included in the analysis. Of these 47.6% of outpatient department and 24.7% of office-based visits…
NBA coach shares keys to a strong work culture
Editor's Note Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone says building relationships and instilling belief are the keys to a strong work culture, according to a July 25 SmartBrief on Leadership report. However, building relationships is not a skill most senior leaders are adept at, and instilling belief, which builds confidence…