CMS expert offers advice on ASC quality reporting
With the early issuance of quality reporting codes for Medicare, both ambulatory surgery centers (ASC) and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) have a chance to develop expertise in their use and to resolve any technical problems before the mandatory start date of October 1, 2012. And that…
Overcoming low health literacy: Helping your patient understand
Imagine sitting through a discussion with a surgeon or nurse and not understanding a single word—or worse, misinterpreting key information. Unfortunately, that’s the situation for many patients and their families because millions of people in the US have insufficient health literacy skills. A review in the American Journal of Surgery…
Curbing OR traffic: Finding ways to minimize the flow of personnel
A traffic cop? Stop signs? Flashing lights? Is there a way to curb the number of people passing in and out of ORs during cases? The number during a lengthy major surgery can reach a dozen or more, with door openings every minute or two. Door openings affect the OR’s…
Editorial
Not far into a case, the circulating nurse calls for a missing instrument to be delivered. A nurse from the next OR comes in to fetch a piece of needed equipment. A student from a local nursing program is in the room observing. The surgeon has invited a visiting colleague…
Seminars center on key OR management topics
OR efficiencies, accreditation standards, infection prevention, and team training are a few topics of all-day seminars that perioperative leaders can choose from at the OR Manager Conference October 24 to 26 at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. The conference, celebrating its 25th anniversary, starts on Wednesday, October 24, with 9…
A cure for the distracted time-out before surgery
Does this ever happen in your OR? The circulating nurse calls for the time-out. But the team doesn’t seem to be focusing. Music is playing, an assistant is draping the C-arm, and team members are talking about the football game. The circulating nurse tries again and gives up. A cognitive…
Managing the costs of explanted spine hardware
During spinal surgery, it is sometimes necessary to implant and then remove, or explant, instrumentation in the same procedure. Explantation occurs when an implanted plate or spacer does not fit, or implanted screws are too loose or too short. Explanted instrumentation cannot be reused and must be discarded, adding to…
Take care with your ancillary anesthesia charges
A column on managing the OR revenue cycle How to charge for surgical services is a frequent source of questions from OR directors and business managers. In this column, Keith Siddel, MBA, answers frequent questions about charging. He is an officer with Health Revenue Assurance Associates (HRRA), Plantation, Florida.…
Free Daily News
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- Study: Observational learning ineffective in ensuring nursing student infection control compliance
- Students innovate to reduce OR plastic waste
- OR Business Management Conference 2025 features fresh perspectives, new tracks
- Survey: Bariatric surgery’s fertility benefits not widely understood
- Study highlights nurse staffing disparity in hospitals serving black populations
- Joint Commission issues new workplace violence prevention standards
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