The Joint Commission's safety alert supports removal of surgical smoke
Surgical smoke is a complex issue that has not gained a lot of traction over the years. Legislation to mandate smoke evacuation was introduced more than 20 years ago, but the first law wasnโt passed until 2018, and only three US states thus far have enacted legislation. Release of The…
First assistants bring expertise and efficiency to the OR table--Part 1
Non-physician surgical first assistants (FAs) perform a variety of tasksโeverything from closing an incision and inserting drains to harvesting veins for bypass procedures and preparing anterior cruciate ligament grafts. A significant benefit of FAs is shorter case times, which may help reduce patient morbidity and mortality and increase case volumes.…
Editorial
The increasing availability of COVID-19 vaccines, along with proposed healthcare industry funding from the federal government, are reasons to feel hopeful about recovering from the pandemic. For people who are fully vaccinated, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has green-lighted gathering with loved ones and resuming some activities that…
Conference keynote points the way to a purposeful life
Personal health and well-being have become higher priorities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Some people who previously may have ignored preventive care or postponed procedures are taking better care of themselves. Some are reexamining life choices as a result of changes taking place over the past year. โMany of us accept…
Studies assess use of Mako System in joint arthroplasty
Editorโs Note. This article presents value-based analyses on the use of Mako robotic technology in total knee, partial knee, and total hip arthroplasty. The authors are with Stryker Orthopaedics in Mahwah, New Jersey. Joint arthroplasty is an effective procedure to treat advanced osteoarthritis of the hips and knees. It…
Collaborative anesthesia providers can help boost OR performance
Most high-performing ORs share something in commonโan anesthesia group that is actively engaged in perioperative leadership, takes responsibility for organizational performance, and is fully invested in the success of the OR. Unfortunately, in many ORs, anesthesia providers focus narrowly on services and procedures, not the total performance of the surgery…
Strengthening ASC education programs in the age of COVID-19
Ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) tend to operate in lean environments, a factor that can impact training and education, whether itโs a refresher for current employees or part of the onboarding process for new hires. Maintaining robust education programs during a global pandemic that has reduced in-person training and imposed restrictions…
Association of nurse, physician occupations with suicide risk
Editor's Note The findings of this study from the University of Michigan Schools of Nursing and Medicine, Ann Arbor, suggest a significantly increased suicide risk for nurses in the US, compared to the general population, but not for physicians. This cohort study using data from 2007 to 2018 includes suicides…
FDA recommends healthcare workers transition away from decontaminated N95 masks
Editor's Note The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), on April 9, sent a letter to healthcare providers recommending they โtransition away from crisis capacity conservation strategies,โ including disinfection and reuse of N95 masks. Though the FDA believes there is an adequate supply of N95s now to facilitate this transition, the…
Lack of exercise linked to a higher risk for severe COVID-19, death
Editor's Note This study from the department of family and sports medicine, Kaiser Permanente Medical Center, Fontana, California, finds that a lack of physical activity was strongly associated with a greater risk of severe COVID-19 and death. This analysis compares outcomes in 48,440 adults diagnosed with COVID-19 between January and…