Duration, type of surgical prophylaxis linked to adverse events
Editor's Note The risk of adverse events increases with each additional day of surgical antimicrobial prophylaxis, and extended duration does not lead to additional surgical site infection (SSI) reductions, finds this study. In this study of 79,058 patients having surgical procedures in the VA healthcare system, increasing the duration of…
CDC: Drug overdose mortality drops for the first time in 20 years
Editor's Note The US drug overdose mortality rate dropped 5.1% to 68,557 deaths last year, compared with 72,224 in 2017, the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) reported on July 17. It’s the first time overdose mortality has declined since 1999. The CDC noted that the death counts are…
Industry Spotlight: Moab Healthcare
Moab Healthcare – Redefining Interim-to-Perm Staffing Solutions for the OR and Sterile Processing Departments Moab Healthcare understands the challenges you face when you're trying to find interim resources for your department. They are an OR and SPD focused resource company, providing Interim Management Services, Training, Consulting, Outsourcing and Staffing. They…
Understanding the Millennial nurse manager
Editor's Note The development and retention of Millennial nurse managers is shaped by understanding the support variables that are important to them, this study finds. Interviews of a national sample of 25 Millennial nurse managers found they have a unique perspective on role expectations and support. Seven themes emerged: coming…
Joint Commission issues Quick Safety on combating nurse burnout
Editor's Note The Joint Commission on July 15 issued “Quick Safety 50 Developing resilience to combat nurse burnout.” Research indicates that resilience does more than prevent burnout, it fosters resources to combat workplace challenges. Resilience has several components, including: The ability to adapt in the face of adversity or significant…
Hospital network participation not linked with improved outcomes, lower costs
Editor's Note Hospital network participation was not associated with improvements in surgical outcomes or Medicare expenditures, compared with hospitals not in a network, this study finds. In this analysis of nearly 2 million Medicare beneficiaries having general, vascular, cardiac, or orthopedic surgery between 2007 and 2014 at network (1,868) or…
FDA: Class I recall of Hamilton–G5 Ventilators
Editor's Note The Food & Drug Administration on July 12 identified the recall by Hamilton Medical AG (Bonaduz, Switzerland) of its Hamilton-G5 Ventilators as Class I, the most serious. The recall was initiated because of a software failure that stops the ventilators after displaying an error message, leaving patients to…
Study: Practice of overlapping colorectal surgical procedures is safe
Editor's Note In this study, overlapping surgery in a tertiary care colorectal surgery practice was found to be safe and not linked to adverse patient outcomes. Of 1,270 patients having inpatient colorectal surgery at the Mayo Clinic, between 2012 and 2015, overlapping surgery occurred in 576 patients. Overall adverse events…
House to vote on repeal of ACA’s tax on high-cost insurance plans
Editor's Note House Leaders will vote the week of July 15 on a measure to repeal the Affordable Care Act’s 40% tax on high-cost healthcare insurance plans, the July 12 Bloomberg Tax reports. The measure is expected to have wide bipartisan support. Democrat Rep Joe Courtney of Connecticut is the…
Disadvantaged neighborhoods linked to higher readmission rates
Editor's Note Residing in a disadvantaged neighborhood in Maryland and being discharged from a hospital serving a large proportion of disadvantaged neighborhoods were independently associated with increased risk of readmission in this study. 2015 data from Maryland hospitals showed a 14.1% 30-day readmission rate for patients living in neighborhoods in…