Imaging has a long history in the operating room. In the 1960s, x-ray units were mounted on the ceiling, as they might be today. But the surgeon had to go to an adjacent room to view the image, and images could only be stored for 10 minutes. Mobile C-arms, introduced…
"Building hybrid rooms is building for the future," says Nicholas D. Troeleman, RNFA, director of perioperative services at the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC), Baltimore. "Having hybrid rooms in a research setting like the University of Maryland gives physician researchers the ability to develop new techniques and build on…
Adverse events in hospitals are even more common than thought—and more common than the usual reporting methods uncover. A new study finds an adverse event happens in more than a third (33.2%) of hospital admissions. Many happen in the OR. Surgery was the second most frequent type of adverse event…
Anew risk calculator allows surgeons to model and predict the risk of complications for individual patients after bariatric surgery, a new study reports. Available free online, the risk calculator will aid in surgical decision making and help patients better prepare for their surgery by understanding the true risks and benefits,…
Ambulatory surgery center (ASC) staff, like their hospital colleagues, are battling health care-acquired infections (HAIs), but there's a twist: Most of the newest regulations shaping ASC infection control programs are coming from state legislators, not federal officials. So far, 9 states have passed laws requiring ASCs to report infections related…
A column on managing the OR revenue cycle. How to charge for OR time and services is a frequent source of questions from OR directors and business managers. In this column, Keith Siddel, MBA, answers questions about charging posed by members of the OR Business Management Listserv. Siddel is CEO…
This summary is based on a special report by ECRI Institute. Can you consider using the Steris System 1E even without a biological indicator (BI)? Yes, but decide carefully, ECRI Institute advises. A number of questions have been raised about the Steris System 1E (SS1E), which is marketed by the…
The preoperative process is critical to safe care and a smooth OR process. Missing paperwork, incomplete assessments, and the need for last-minute consults can disrupt any surgical day. Is a preoperative clinic the answer? Each organization needs to weigh the cost against the potential benefits, such as fewer delays and…