CDC provides first estimates of flu season
Editor's Note New data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show that so far, during the 2018-2019 season, between 6 and 7 million people have been sick with the flu. Up to half have sought medical care, and between 69,000 and 84,000 have been hospitalized. These estimates…
Association of postop delirium with long-term cognitive function
Editor's Note In this study, postoperative delirium had a negative association with 30- and 90-day cognition in all participating patients. However, patients with preoperative cognitive impairment had an improvement in cognition at 30 and 90 days after surgery, but this increase was attenuated if the patient experienced postoperative delirium. This…
Joint Commission: New blog post examines steps for developing a reporting culture
Editor's Note A new blog post featured in the Joint Commission’s "High Reliability Healthcare" examines four essential steps for developing a reporting culture and why they are important. The steps are: Establish trust: Leaders should help create personal responsibility by establishing clear performance expectations for employees in an environment where…
Researchers pinpoint factor that predicts unplanned readmissions
Editor's Note The widely used “LACE index,” which assesses a patient’s risk of hospital readmission, has a “blindspot” because it fails to consider whether patients are on Medicaid, West Virginia University researchers say. LACE stands for length of stay, acuity, comorbidity, and emergency department. To assess the predictive value of…
Predicting ICU readmission of surgical patients
Editor's Note ICU readmission risk for surgical patients can be predicted using a simple, clinical nomogram based on seven demographic and physiologic variables, this study finds. Of 3,109 patients admitted to the ICU by general surgery, transplant, trauma, and vascular surgery services, there were 141 (5%) unplanned readmissions within 72…
FDA: Sun Pharmaceutical recalls four lots of Vecuronium Bromide
Editor's Note The Food & Drug Administration (FDA) on January 8 announced the recall by Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, Inc (Cranbury, New Jersey) of three lots of Vecuronium Bromide for Injection, 10 mg (lyophilized powder) (Lots: JKS0443A, JKS0444A, JKS0477A), and one lot of Vecuronium Bromide for Injection, 20 mg (lyophilized powder)…
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Effect of Medicare ACOs on spending for inpatient surgery
Editor's Note Though Medicare Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) have had some success in reducing spending for medical care, they have not had similar success with surgical spending, this study finds. Of 341,675 patients at 427 ACO hospitals and 1,024,090 patients at 1,531 non-ACO hospitals analyzed, average baseline payments were similar…
Joint Commission seeks comments on new antimicrobial stewardship requirements
Editor's Note The Joint Commission on January 9 announced that it is seeking feedback on its newly proposed requirements for antimicrobial stewardship at Medication Management (MM) standard MM.09.01.03. The requirements apply to ambulatory healthcare organizations and office-based surgery practices. The proposed requirements align with current recommendations from scientific and professional…
Surgical intern education decreases postop opioid prescribing
Editor's Note Education of surgical interns on postoperative analgesia was effective in preparing them for judicious opioid prescribing, this study finds. An education session on postoperative analgesia prescribing was presented to 31 incoming surgical interns by surgical residents. Before the education session was started, few interns felt comfortable prescribing opioids…