Revisions to ANSI/AAMI ST91, flexible endoscope processing
The Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI) released the updated ANSI/AAMI ST91:2021 Flexible and semi-rigid endoscope processing in healthcare facilities. The revised version reflects current research and advancements in flexible endoscope processing. What follows is an abbreviated summary of some of the key revisions and additions. Future columns…
Results of competency assessment study of OR nurses in the US
Perioperative nursing was the first recognized nursing specialty in the late 1800s. Modern education and training of nurses entering the specialty is still like this early period. Orientation is heavily reliant on workplace training and precepted learning experience. However, these long-standing methods have not been rigorously studied for effectiveness. The…
Five things to ask distributors about ASCs
While the COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve with impacts shifting over time, some of the changes it brought to healthcareโspecifically the ORโmay be permanent. One trend it accelerated: the rise in new ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs), which specialize in elective or same-day outpatient surgical procedures. While this trend was largely…
Best practices for ASCs: Cleaning in the COVID-19 era
Ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) rely on OR staff to clean the room during turnovers, sometimes contracting with outside firms to do terminal cleaning. As COVID-19 brings renewed attention to disinfection methods, ASC administrators may ask: What are the best methods to keep OR rooms clean? Since the pandemic began, the…
Long COVID-19 in seniors may be overlooked by clinicians
Editor's Note OR Manager recently reported on a study that found that older age is a risk factor for long COVID-19โdescribed as ongoing or new health problems that occur at least 4 weeks after COVID-19 infection, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). According to that study,…
Association of COVID-19 with disparities in access to major surgery
Editor's Note This study, led by researchers from the University of Rochester (NY) School of Medicine, finds that the early response to the COVID-19 pandemic did not increase disparities in access to major surgical procedures. Of 3,470,905 adults hospitalized for major surgical procedures at 719 facilities between January 1, 2018,…
ACS: Prevent BLEEDing Act introduced in Congress
Editor's Note The American College of Surgeons (ACS), on May 19, announced that it strongly supports legislation that creates a grant program to provide training on bleeding control techniques and anti-blood loss supplies for use in medical emergencies. The โPrevent Blood Loss with Emergency Equipment Devices Act (Prevent Bleeding Act),โ…
Increasing face-mask compliance among HCWs during COVID-19
Editor's Note In this study, researchers from Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, find that face-mask compliance remained suboptimal among healthcare workers (HCWs) despite a facility-wide mandate for universal masking during the COVID-19 pandemic. Of 1,561 observations during a 4-week baseline period after universal masking was mandated, median weekly…
ECRI: Time to move to scheduled COVID-19 vaccinations
Editor's Note In a May 18 position statement, ECRI recommends that itโs time to move to a regularly scheduled COVID-19 vaccine booster model. โMoving to a regular vaccine schedule will increase clarity and confidence about what actions to take and when, compared to the current piecemeal, wait-and-see approach,โ says Marcus…
Who is most at risk for long COVID-19?
Editor's Note In this study, Japanese researchers found that COVID-19 severity is not a risk factor for long COVID-19, but older age is. Analysis of responses to a questionnaire survey from 127 recovered patients found that: 52% had sequelae at a median of 29 days from COVID-19 onset, and prevalence…