Statewide initiative reduces postop opioid prescribing without increase in patient pain
Editor's Note Implementation of opioid prescribing guidelines in the state of Michigan reduced opioid prescription size without negatively affecting patient satisfaction or pain, this study finds. In 1 year, teams at 43 hospitals across the state reduced by nearly one-third the number of opioid pills they prescribed to patients (having…
Joint Commission refines requirements for practitioner credentialing, privileging, and evaluation
Editor's Note The Joint Commission announced on August 14 that accredited hospitals and critical access hospitals will be able to supplement local data with data acquired from Medicare-certified hospitals and critical access hospitals for the purposes of practitioner credentialing, privileging, and evaluation (focused and ongoing). The supplemental data may not…
Hospital revisits have increased since implementation of HRRP
Editor's Note Hospital revisits (ie, treat-and-discharge visits to ED, observation stays, or inpatient readmissions) within 30 days of discharge have increased since implementation of the Hospital Readmission Reduction Program (HRRP), this study finds. Though hospital readmissions have dropped since HRRP was implemented as part of the Affordable Care Act, there…
AI, machine learning help unlock health data at Michigan Medicine
Editor's Note The University of Michigan’s health system has 34 artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning research projects underway, 28 of which have principal investigators, the August 12 Health Data Management reports. Projects include analyzing electronic health records (EHRs), ECG monitor data, and analytics to predict acute hemodynamic instability and…
Postop delirium linked to long-term decline in elderly
Editor's Note In this study, postoperative delirium in patients averaging 80 years old was linked to long-term detrimental outcomes after major orthopedic surgical procedures. Of 130 patients analyzed, 34 developed postoperative in-hospital delirium. Patients with postoperative delirium had a greater decline in activities of daily living at 2 to 3…
FDA: Class I recall of Volumat MC Agilia Infusion System, Vigilant Drug Library
Editor's Note The Food & Drug Administration on August 12 identified the recall by Fresenius Kabi (Bad Homburg, Germany) of its Volumat MC Agilia Infusion System and Vigilant Drug Library as Class I, the most serious. The recall was initiated because of a “Low Priority,” “Keep Vein Open,” “End of…
Millennial nurse managers’ perspectives on their experiences in leadership roles
Editor's Note With millennials soon to make up 50% of the workforce, it is essential to recognize how the millennial nurses’ values and expectations shape their viewpoints to consider or reject leadership roles, this study finds. For the study, a national sample of 25 millennial nurse managers were interviewed on…
More than three-fourths of millennials want more well-being support from employers
Editor's Note This Welltok survey of more than 1,000 workers found that 78% of millennials wanted their employers to do more to support their health and well-being. When millennials were questioned on incentives for participating in well-being programs: 64% favored additional vacation time 56% said wellness benefits 53% wanted flexible…
Effect of BMI on SSI risk
Editor's Note This study found a trend of increasing risk of surgical site infections (SSIs) for almost all surgery types when body mass index (BMI) increased from normal to morbidly obese. Of 387,919 patients analyzed in the Dutch national surveillance network PREZIES, 1% were underweight, 30% had normal weight, 40%…
FDA: Class I recall of Teleflex/Sheridan Endotracheal Tubes
Editor's Note The Food & Drug Administration (FDA) on August 2 identified the recall by Centurion Medical Products of its Airway Kit containing Teleflex/Sheridan Endotracheal Tubes as Class I, the most serious. The recall was initiated because of the potential for the tube connector to dislodge from the endotracheal tube,…