Lateral violence: Tools managers can use to help shift the culture
An orientee comes to you in tears saying a couple of tenured nurses have snapped at her or huffed impatiently when she asked a question. Several other staff have met with you individually about conflict and hurtful comments they say are happening on one of the specialty teams. You already…
Raising the bar for safety in the handling of surgical specimens
Is this specimen fresh or frozen? Is it routine, or does it require a lung protocol? Does it go to the frozen section lab or the microbiology department? Proper labeling and handling of surgical specimens are critical to reduce the risk of misdiagnosis and the need for repeat surgery. Decreasing…
Editorial
NSQIP—you see those initials more and more in studies on surgical quality. NSQIP stands for the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program from the American College of Surgeons (ACS). NSQIP is gathering momentum, with 475 hospitals enrolled. Benefits are credible data for improving surgical outcomes and the buy-in from surgeons. By…
FDA proposes a UDI system for medical devices
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released its long awaited proposed rule for a unique device identification (UDI) system on July 3, 2012. Comments will be accepted for 120 days after the proposed rule is published in the Federal Register, which was expected in early July. The rule would…
Reducing variation in total knee replacements
A new study in the journal Health Affairs of total knee replacement (TKR) confirms that wide variations in care exist among hospitals based on factors such as geographic location. The High Value Healthcare Collaborative found significant variations in TKR among the 5 participating health care systems. Among these were length…
Tying anesthesia salaries to on-time starts, turnovers
Better data coupled with an at-risk salary model for anesthesiologists have helped one academic medical center to improve its performance for on-time starts and turnover time between cases. The hospital’s surgical volume was growing, and it had to make the most of its OR time. Yet a lot of the…
Key OR design, construction changes proposed
Key changes are being proposed in the OR design and construction guidelines that are used by the Joint Commission, federal agencies, and 42 states. OR leaders may wish to offer comments. Comments are accepted until November 22, 2012, on the draft 2014 Guidelines for Design and Construction of Health Care…
Lumens and endoscopes: Meeting cleaning basics
Narrow-lumened instruments and endoscopes are one of your biggest reprocessing challenges. They have the highest risk of being improperly processed, notes Michelle J. Alfa, PhD, FCCM, a researcher in health care-associated infections. If the lumens and channels of endoscopes are not cleaned properly, high-level disinfection or sterilization may not be…
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
Career Center
- BE/BC General Surgeon - Carilion Clinic - Christiansburg, VA
- Cleveland Clinic Florida- HPB/General Surgery opportunity in Port St. Lucie, FL! - Cleveland Clinic - Port St. Lucie, FL
- CARDIAC SURGERY FACULTY - Medical College of Wisconsin - Milwaukee, WI
- Surgical Oncologist - Mount Sinai Services/Queens Hospital - Jamaica, NY