Study debunks ‘July Effect’ in cardiac surgery
Editor's Note The “July Effect”−the idea that more errors occur in July because of the influx of new interns and residents starting their in-hospital training−does not apply to cardiac surgery, this study finds. For more than 470,000 cardiac procedures analyzed (coronary bypass, aortic valve, mitral valve, thoracic aortic aneurysm), in-hospital…
FDA issues final guidance for drug-device combo products
Editor's Note The Food & Drug Administration (FDA) on July 22 issued a final guidance for makers of products that combine devices and drugs or biologics. The guidance clarifies how manufacturers should comply with recordkeeping requirements and how they should submit safety reports and avoid duplication.
Effectiveness of ACS bleeding control training in laypeople
Editor's Note Laypeople currently trained in the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Bleeding Control Basic (B-Con) course may not be prepared to care for bleeding individuals because the principles for correct Combat Application Tourniquet (CAT) application taught in the course are not fully translatable to other commercial or improvised tourniquets,…
Joint Commission names five hospitals as 2019 Pioneers in Quality Expert Contributors
Editor's Note The Joint Commission on July 24 named five hospitals/healthcare systems as 2019 Pioneers in Quality Expert Contributors for their leadership efforts in using electronic clinical quality measure (eCQM) practices to drive their quality improvement. The five are: Baptist Health (Jacksonville, Florida) Johns Hopkins Health System (Baltimore, Maryland) Memorial…
Changes in hospital referral patterns to skilled nursing facilities under HRRP
Editor's Note The Hospital Readmission Reduction Program (HRRP), which penalizes hospitals for higher-than-expected readmission rates, did not prompt substantial changes in hospital referral patterns to skilled nursing facilities (SNFs), this study finds. However, readmissions for patients referred to SNFs decreased more than for other patients. In this analysis of nearly…
FDA: Class I recall of Getinge’s Maquet/Datascope intra-aortic balloon pumps
Editor's Note The Food & Drug Administration on July 23 identified the recall by Getinge of its Maquet/Datascope intra-aortic balloon pumps (IABPs) as Class I, the most serious. Recall of the Cardiosave Hybrid, Cardiosave Rescue, CS300, and CS 100/100i IABPs was initiated because of reports of the IABP batteries failing…
Legal and ethical questions temper excitement about AI--Part 2
As part of a special series on artificial intelligence (AI), OR Manager is taking a deep dive into the many facets of this new technology and its impact on patient care. In this issue we continue our examination of the challenges related to AI, which began in last month’s issue…
Research raises concerns about lubricants used in endoscopes
Current endoscope reprocessing methods are not consistently effective in eliminating organic soil or microbes, and the off-label use of products for defoaming, lubrication, and bleeding control may be contributing to reprocessing failures. Though endoscope manufacturers have cautioned against the use of these products, endoscopists still commonly use them, and many…
Editorial
Our series on artificial intelligence (AI) concludes in this issue with part 2 of an in-depth look at legal and ethical questions (cover story) as well as advice for evaluating new AI products (“Consider all angles when choosing AI technology,” p 13). But insights about future trends like AI do…
Zero tolerance policies rob 'energy suckers' of power
Many OR managers have likely experienced bullying, incivility, or lateral violence at some point in their careers. For newer and more seasoned managers alike, advice for handling difficult people is always welcome, and attendees at the 2019 OR Manager Conference in New Orleans will gain some valuable insights from Barbara…