Operative volume is essential quality indicator for performing emergent general surgery in elderly
Editor's Note In this study, survival rates for geriatric patients were significantly improved when emergency general surgery procedures were performed at hospitals with higher operative volumes. Of 41,860 surgical procedures evaluated at 200 hospitals, mortality decreased as hospital emergency operative volume increased. For every standardized increase in volume, reduction in…
Joint Commission: Quick Safety addresses drug diversion
Editor's Note The Joint Commission announced on April 17 that the April issue of Quick Safety focuses on drug diversion and examines patterns and trends that could indicate drug diversion. It also offers safety actions organizations can take and describes how to take the mistakes other hospitals have made and…
AI detects prostate cancer as well as experienced radiologists
Editor's Note A new artificial intelligence (AI) system developed by researchers at the UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine improved the ability to diagnose prostate cancer in this study. The system, called “FocalNet,” helps identify and predict the aggressiveness of the disease by evaluating MRI scans. Results showed that FocalNet…
FDA issues statement on trach tube shortages
Editor's Note The Food & Drug Administration on April 12 issued a statement about the agency’s efforts to mitigate the shortage of Smiths Medical’s Bivona tracheostomy tubes, especially the pediatric tubes. The shortage is a result of the closure of a large ethylene oxide sterilization facility in Willowbrook, Illinois, and there…
Study: Findings describe nurse manager role preparation, competency
Editor's Note Nurse executives need to evaluate the strength of their nursing leadership talent pool and develop policies and strategies that promote nurse manager competence, this study finds. A survey of 647 nurse managers, who manage 964 patient care units in 54 hospitals found the following: They rated themselves as…
FDA: Class I recall of Brainlab Spine & Trauma 3D Navigation Software
Editor's Note The Food & Drug Administration (FDA) on April 15 identified the recall of Brainlab's Spine & Trauma 3D Navigation Software as Class I, the most serious. The Software is being recalled because of the potential for incorrect information to display during surgery, which may prevent the surgeon from…
David Wyatt is AORN’s new president-elect
Editor's Note Congratulations to the newly elected AORN officers for 2019-2020: President-elect: David A. Wyatt, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, CNOR Treasurer: Vangie Dennis, BSN, RN, CNOR, CMLSO Board of Directors: Nakeisha M. Archer, MBA, RN, NE-BC, CNOR, CSSM; Vicki J. Barnett, MSN, RN, CNOR; William Duffy, MJ, RN, CNOR, FAAN; Brenda…
New care pathway reduces delirium, readmissions for frail elderly trauma patients
Editor's Note A new interdisciplinary care protocol for frail elderly trauma patients significantly decreased delirium and 30-day readmission risk in this study. Researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, compared the care of 125 patients who were treated before the pathway was implemented with 144 patients after the pathway was…
Hospital employment up 13,600 jobs in March
Editor's Note US hospitals added 13,600 jobs in March to a seasonally adjusted 5,223,400, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported on April 5. That’s up 108,500 more employees than a year ago. Overall, healthcare employment has increased 397,500 in the past year. The overall unemployment rate was unchanged at 3.8%.
Using machine learning for preop prediction of postop mortality, ICU admission
Editor's Note Machine learning can be used to improve surgical risk prediction compared to traditional risk calculators, this study from Singapore finds. The traditional Combined Assessment of Risk Encountered in Surgery and the American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status models were compared with machine learning models in the prediction of…