OR debriefings put the safety checklist ‘on steroids’
See it, say it, fix it. That saying by a former FedEx pilot set the stage for a major quality improvement effort in surgical services at a South Carolina medical center. A key QI tool is debriefings performed at the end of every case. These quick exchanges help to bring…
Spore test for liquid chemical sterilant processing system
A spore test strip is now available for the Steris System 1E Liquid Chemical Sterilant Processing System. The Steris Verify Spore Test Strip for S40 was cleared by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in June 2012. What is the role of this new spore test strip? How is this…
ASCs seek dialog on drug shortages, single-use vials
A new villain has emerged in the struggle against drug shortages that continue to plague health care: the single-use vial. When a vial of injectable medication contains more than a particular patient needs, if the vial is designated “single-use,” the remainder must be discarded, according to recommendations from the Centers…
ERs, ORs respond for multiple victims of Colorado shootings
A call came over the radio at 12:30 am on July 20, 2012. There had been a shooting at a movie theater in Aurora, Colorado, with the potential for multiple victims. Emergency department staff at the nearby University of Colorado Hospital (UCH) listened to the call. They didn’t anticipate more…
Editorial
A high rate of nurse burnout is linked to higher rates of catheter-related urinary tract infection (UTI) and surgical site infection (SSI), a new study in the American Journal of Infection Control finds. How can that be? How could burnout be linked to SSIs? The lead author, Jeannie Cimiotti, DNSc,…
Leaders may be barrier to evidence-based practice
Serious barriers—including resistance from nursing leaders—are keeping nurses from adopting evidence-based practices that could improve nursing outcomes, finds a survey of more than 1,000 RNs. Leader and manager resistance was ranked among the top barriers along with politics and organizational cultures. Asked what would help, respondents named education, access to…
OR Manager of the Year strong patient advocate
A mentor and an advocate for patients and families are qualities that stand out in letters nominating Karen Martin, MS, RN, CNOR, NEA-BC, as OR Manager of the Year. Martin, who is director of perioperative services at the Medical Center of the Rockies (MCR), Loveland, Colorado, will be honored at…
Tips, lessons from a recent Joint Commission survey
What’s the Joint Commission looking for when it surveys departments where surgery and other invasive procedures are performed? Tips, observations, and lessons were gleaned from a recent 5-day Joint Commission survey by John R. Rosing, MHA, FACHE, who was present for the survey. He consults on Joint Commission and Centers…
Free Daily News
- Healthcare employment up in February
- New legal standard redefines medical negligence
- Study: Machine learning improves OR efficiency, but challenges remain
- Study: Weekend effect raises risk of surgical patient mortality, complications
- 4-day workweek boosts job satisfaction, work-life balance for nurse leaders
- Open-heart surgery performed on infant mid-delivery
- Infusion pumps deemed high-risk in FDA early alert
- Stem cell researchers tout potential for sickle cell disease cure
- Study: Stem cell therapy restores vision in LSCD patients
- AMSURG launches nationwide campaign to spotlight rising colon cancer rates, urges early screening
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