2019 OR Manager Career & Salary Survey
The results of our 2019 Career and Salary Survey are in! We surveyed over 300 OR, ASC and PACU leaders to find out which industry trends are having the biggest impact on their jobs, as well as their opinions about job satisfaction, compensation, staffing and reimbursement trends nationwide. Fill out…
Development of surgery-specific second victim peer support program
Editor's Note In this study, researchers at the Massachusetts General Hospital, designed, implemented, and assessed the effect of the first surgery-specific peer support program in the US. The program uses five steps: creation of a conceptual framework choice of peer supporters training of peer supporters multifaceted identification of major adverse…
Boston Scientific receives FDA clearance for single-use duodenoscope
Editor's Note Boston Scientific announced December 13 that it had received Food & Drug Administration (FDA) 510(k) clearance for the EXALT Model D Single-Use Duodenoscope for use in endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) procedures. The EXALT Model D, which was granted Breakthrough Device Designation from the FDA, eliminates the need for…
CMS expects greater scrutiny from Joint Commission surveyors
[This article from the January 2020 issue of OR Manager summarizes information presented at the 2019 OR Manager Conference. The presenter offered tips to help attendees comply with Joint Commission standards and achieve a successful Joint Commission survey. Readers are asked to note the following points of clarification: The presentation…
Is your staff ready to manage malignant hyperthermia?
Malignant hyperthermia (MH) is a rare but life-threatening surgical complication that seems to turn the effects of general anesthesia upside down. Instead of relaxing, muscles become rigid, releasing large amounts of acid and potassium into the blood. Instead of a normal slowing of breathing, respirations quicken, and end-tidal CO2 rises.…
Editorial
Projections for healthcare industry trends in 2020 started to proliferate near the end of 2019 as attention turned to the new year. Reflecting on the Institute of Medicineโs (IOM) landmark 1999 report, โTo Err Is Human: Building a Safer Health System,โ some healthcare leaders said the report has raised awareness…
Reinvent and reap the rewards of improved handoffs--Part 1
A care transition poses a danger point for patientsโfailing to โhand offโ needed information from one clinician to another can lead to significant morbidity and mortality. The Joint Commission was so concerned about handoffs that in 2017 it issued a sentinel event alert on the topic. โHandoffs are a safety…
Well-crafted handoff tools save valuable time in OR schedule
In 2017, the Joint Commission issued a Sentinel Alert Event on the problem of inadequate handoff communication, focusing attention on this vital aspect of care. (See related story, p 22.) Clinicians and leaders agree that handoffs are important, but implementing them effectively can be challenging, particularly in the fast-paced perioperative…
Providing cost-benefit analysis for ERAS-related solutions
Enhanced Recovery After Surgery The implementation of Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) is based on the concept of organizing care around the patient, addressing medical condition needs to optimize readiness for surgery and reducing the likelihood of postoperative complications. Efficacy is measured by how well we perform according to these…
To avoid penalties, know the rules for quality reporting
Keeping up with Medicareโs regulatory and reporting requirements for ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) can be as difficult as ensuring physicians arrive to start their cases on time. โRegulations can change frequently,โ says Gina Throneberry, MBA, RN, CASC, CNOR, director of education and clinical affairs for the Ambulatory Surgery Center Association…