Perioperative services leaders have their hands full with a range of pressing issues, from the return of elective case cancellations to new struggles with staff turnover. However, an even bigger problem is flying under the radar for many hospitals—impending changes in the market for anesthesiology services. Several factors are coming…
Consistency is the word that comes to mind when reviewing results from the 2021 OR Manager Salary/Career Survey. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, leaders in ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) reported that salary, satisfaction, and the number of employees supervised were comparable to metrics reported in 2020. The good news is that…
Editor's Note In this study, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) researchers report on the comparative effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines against hospitalization of US adults without immunocompromised conditions. Included in the case-control analysis were 3,689 adults aged 18 years and older who were hospitalized at 21 US hospitals between…
Editor's Note The Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA’s) Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee on September 17 voted that there was not enough safety and effectiveness data to approve a third Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine dose for those 16 years and older. The committee did vote to recommend approval of…
Editor's Note This study led by researchers at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, finds that although COVID-19’s effect on access to liver transplantation has been all-pervasive, minorities have been disproportionately affected—especially those with public insurance. During the initial wave of COVID-19, organ transplantation was classified as a…
Editor's Note The Joint Commission, on September 15, announced that the deadline to participate in the Institute for Safe Medication Practices’ (ISMP) Medication Safety Self Assessment for Perioperative Settings has been extended to December 10. The self-assessment helps those in perioperative settings see how well their organizations’ systems and practices…
Editor's Note In this study from Istanbul University Faculty of Medicine, researchers find that Medically Necessary, Time-Sensitive (MeNTS) scores used for elective surgical prioritization during the COVID-19 pandemic have low discriminating power in distinguishing patients with moderate or severe postoperative complications. In this analysis, 223 patients were classified according to:…
Editor's Note The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on September 15 identified the recall of Smiths Medical Normoflo irrigation fluid warmers and warming sets as Class I, the most serious. The recall was initiated because of the potential for aluminum ions leaching into warmed fluids, potentially exposing patients to high…
Editor's Note This study led by nurse researchers at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center, New York City, finds a high level of COVID-19 pandemic impact on nurses’ intent to leave their current positions and the nursing profession. Among 5,000 nurses surveyed, pandemic impact was rated high overall and was highest in…
Editor's Note ECRI and its affiliate, the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP), announced on September 14 that they will be joining leaders around the globe in celebrating World Patient Safety Day, September 17, 2021. To support this year’s theme, “Safe Maternal and Newborn Care,” ECRI and ISMP developed an…