OR noise levels linked with increased risk for error
Noise in the OR, whether it is the sound of loud equipment, talkative team members, or music, is a patient and surgical safety factor that can affect the processing of auditory information by surgeons and other members of the OR team, finds a study. The study is the first to…
'Just Culture' encourages error reporting, improves patient safety
During a procedure in the OR, a medication is retrieved from the automated supply station and introduced onto the sterile field. The sterile field is then, unknowingly and unintentionally, contaminated by an unsterile medication. This example could happen in any operating room setting. In this case, the circulating nurse spoke…
Unprocessed tray incident prompts investigation, leads to process improvements
The circulating nurse was cleaning up after surgery in an ambulatory surgery center (ASC) when she noticed the internal chemical indicator (a Class 5 integrating indicator) had not reached its appropriate endpoint response, which is a pass. That meant an unprocessed instrument tray had been used on the patient. Her…
Fewer surgical cancellations occur after preoperative screening
Duke University Hospital has had a Pre-Operative Screening Unit (POSU) in place for the past 16 years to optimize patients prior to surgery, but until recently, there were no hard data on surgical cancellation rates. Now, a retrospective analysis has revealed that fewer cancellations occur when patients are seen in…
Can your OR documentation stand up to a RAC audit?
A column on managing the OR revenue cycle. Audits of Medicare payments to hospitals are up dramatically. In all, 89% of hospitals reported activity by recovery audit contractors (RACs) in the third quarter of 2012, according to an American Hospital Association (AHA) survey. Here are tips on how your OR…
Taking small steps to control supply costs yields a much better bottom line
OR Business Performance is a series intended to help OR managers and directors improve the success of their business. Surgical supplies are a major cost category for hospital ORs. Depending on the specialty and the procedure, supplies may represent 50% or more of total costs per case. Unfortunately, new…
Guidelines addressing preoperative assessment of geriatric patients aim to enhance outcomes
The number of elderly people in the US is on the rise, and so is the number of older patients having surgery. However, while advances in technology and techniques may make surgery more feasible for those age 65 and older, ensuring successful outcomes for this cohort is challenging. Specific guidelines…
New CMS guidelines suggest changes in advance directive policies
Ambulatory surgery patients who become incapacitated should have their wishes for care honored, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) stresses in its new guidelines. Previously, the guidelines permitted an ambulatory surgery center (ASC), for reasons of conscience or policy, to refuse to honor advance directives calling for cessation…
Free Daily News
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