The Joint Commission no longer evaluating COVID-19 vaccination compliance
Editor's Note The Joint Commission, on July 5, announced that its surveyors will no longer be evaluating compliance with the COVID-19 vaccination requirement for accreditation. The standard will remain in the current manual until the next standards release later this year, The Joint Commission says.
HHS launches new initiative to strengthen the US health workforce
Editor's Note The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on July 6 expanded upon the recently launched HHS Health Workforce Initiative during an event at Lincoln-West School of Science and Health, a public high school in Cleveland, Ohio, that "prepares students for college and careers in healthcare," Healthcare Purchasing…
CISA: New 'high-risk' cyber vulnerability for Medtronic cardiac device management system
Editor's Note On June 29, the Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) issued a medical advisory alert "warning of a significant, high-risk vulnerability in Medtronicโs Paceart Optima System, which is used to compile and manage patientsโ cardiac device data," the American Hospital Association (AHA) July 6 reports. According to CISA,…
Healthcare job cuts on the rise, less job openings
Editor's Note According to a July 6 report from Challenger, Gray & Christmas, a global outplacement and business and executive coaching firm that examines job cuts by US-based employers, healthcare/products companies and manufacturers, including hospitals, announced 38,279 job cuts in the first half of 2023, which is up by 97%…
Patients with cannabis use disorder at higher risk of postoperative complications
Editor's Note A recent study led by researchers at the McGovern Medical School at The University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston finds patients with cannabis use disorder are at a modestly increased risk of perioperative morbidity and mortality after major elective, inpatient, noncardiac surgery. Recently in the United…
ANA, AMA, others react to SCOTUS ruling on affirmative action
Editor's Note Since the divisive ruling on affirmative action from the US Supreme Court (SCOTUS) on June 29, which stated that "colleges and universities can no longer take race into consideration as a specific basis in admissionsโa landmark decision that will have profound impacts on higher education institutions including medical…
Risk factors, rate of postoperative urinary retention following inguinal hernia repair
Editor's Note A global study led by researchers at the Royal College of Surgeons in Dublin, Ireland, finds older male patients are at greater risk of developing postoperative urinary retention (POUR) following elective inguinal hernia repair. The cohort study included 4,151 patients (3882 male and 269 female) recruited between March…
AHRQ new toolkit may improve post-surgical complications
Editor's Note The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) published a new toolkit geared toward helping to improve complications and enhance patient recovery after surgical procedures,ย AHRQ News Now June 27 reports. The new toolkit, titled Toolkit for Improving Surgical Care and Recovery, "addresses common surgical complications such as surgical…
ASA suggests patients stop popular weight loss medications before elective surgery
Editor's Note The American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) announced on June 29 that patients taking any of the currently popular medications for weight loss or for the treatment of type 2 diabetes should withhold the medication prior to elective surgery to "reduce the risk of complications associated with anesthesia in…
Last month for OR Manager award nominations
Editor's Note The OR Manager annual awards honor perioperative leaders who are making strides to better the experience of patients, improve operations, drive innovation, and inspire the next generation of OR leaders. Submit a nomination for one of three OR Manager Awards today! Do you know an exceptional leader who…