December at a Glance
Quality improvement efforts cut readmissions Hospitals participating in the Hospital to Home Quality Improvement Initiative had statistically significant changes in strategies to reduce readmissions, a study finds. In a survey of 437 participants, more hospitals reported: • partnering with other local hospitals to reduce readmissions • discharging patients with a…
Editorial
When you read the disturbing reports linking nurses’ stress, burnout, and workload to worse patient outcomes, you wonder why staff and patient safety aren't addressed together. In just one example, a study found a high rate of nurse burnout was related with higher rates of catheter-associated urinary tract infection and…
Joint project targets prevention for colorectal surgical infections
Seven hospitals working with the Joint Commission and the American College of Surgeons (ACS) on a 2-year project to reduce colorectal surgical site infections (SSIs) have saved more than $3.7 million by avoiding an estimated 135 SSIs, the commission announced in November 2012. The commission is pilot testing the approach…
New workshop planned for OR business managers
OR business managers and OR directors involved in the financial management of the surgical suite will have an opportunity to sharpen their skills at the second annual OR Business Manager Workshop, April 7 to 9, 2013, at the Marriott City Center, Denver. This intensive, interactive workshop is an opportunity for…
Solid OR governance is the foundation for safety
Ten Elements of Safer Surgery. First in a series. What’s the essential ingredient for an OR to run safely and effectively? Many would sum it up with one word—leadership, followed closely by collaboration. An OR led by a strong team from surgery, nursing, and anesthesia backed by the hospital’s…
Hospitals share data to prevent colorectal SSIs
Why does our hospital have a higher rate of venous thromboembolism (VTE) than others in our state? How are others preventing surgical site infections (SSIs) after colorectal surgery? What’s behind our urinary tract infection (UTI) rate? Hospitals in Tennessee are openly discussing issues like these through the Tennessee Surgical Quality…
Standardizing to control costs of spinal implants
When Kimberley Murray, MS, RN, CNOR, administrator for the orthopedic and spine service line at St Joseph’s Hospital (SJH) in Syracuse, New York, set up a successful system for negotiating with orthopedic vendors on total hip and knee replacement surgery, she knew that spine implants would be the next mountain…
Succession: Identifying and mentoring OR leaders Second article in a 2-part series. The first article appeared in the December OR Manager.
Not all staff nurses can or want to be managers,” says Judith Mercado, RN, CNOR, nursing service director for perioperative and maternal child health services for Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Medical Center. “Informal leaders stand out; they are the superstars of the group.” Identifying those leaders and mentoring them into…
Free Daily News
- FBI investigates as Oracle health data breach exposes patient information
- Study: Pulse oximeters may misestimate oxygen saturation in darker skin tones
- FDA issues Class 1 recall for vascular cannulas
- Renewed push for healthcare price transparency faces familiar challenges
- Survey: Tariffs expected to increase hospital costs, disrupt supply chains
- Study: Arthroplasty implants linked to metal accumulation in cerebrospinal fluid
- Novel noninvasive surgical approach shows promise in treating severe OCD
- Study: Preop mental health assessment improves postop outcomes for older patients
- Study: Adenotonsillectomy reduces healthcare use in children with mild sleep-disordered breathing
- Introducing New Leader Toolkit: Your guide to OR leadership success
Career Center
- PEDIATRIC CARDIAC SURGEON - Stanford University, School of Medicine - Honolulu, HI
- CARDIOTHORACIC SURGEON STANFORD MEDICINE - Stanford University, School of Medicine - Corvallis, OR
- Tampa Vascular Surgeon - Vein ans Vascular Institute - Tampa, FL
- Congenital Cardiac Surgeon Clinical Instructor - Stanford University, School of Medicine - Oakland, CA