Orthopedic experts urge caution when starting total knee service lines
Total joint replacements contribute hefty profits to hospitals and healthcare systems. Once the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) starts reimbursing surgery centersโas is done for hospital outpatient surgery departments (HOPDs)โthe competition between hospitals, HOPDs, and ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) will intensify. โTotal joints are the hot ticket in…
SHEA issues new guidance on infection control in anesthesiology
Editor's Note The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA) on December 11 published a new expert guidance on โInfection prevention in the operating room anesthesia work area.โ Key recommendations of the guidance to improve infection prevention include: Increased hand hygiene performed, at a minimum, before aseptic tasks, after removing…
Hospital jobs up 12,700 in November
Editor's Note US hospital jobs increased 12,700 in November to a seasonally adjusted 5,228,200, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported on December 7. That is up 118,000 more employees than a year ago. Overall, healthcare employment has increased by 328,300 in the past year. The overall unemployment rate is 3.7%.
Ultrarestrictive opioid prescription strategy results in fewer pills dispensed, no increase in pain
Editor's Note In this study, an ultrarestrictive opioid prescribing strategy was associated with a reduction in the number of pills dispensed without changes in postoperative pain, complications, or increases in prescription refill requests. In this case-control 2-year analysis of 1,231 women having surgery for gynecologic cancer, those having ambulatory or…
FDA issues statement on updated rates of duodenoscope contamination
Editor's Note The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on December 10 issued a statement on an updated safety communication about rates of duodenoscope contamination obtained from preliminary postmarket data. Interim results from sampling studies from device manufacturersโOlympus, Fujifilm, and Pentaxโ indicate higher-than-expected contamination rates after reprocessing. Up to 3% of…
Harmful medical errors drop after implementing program to improve communication with families
Editor's Note Harmful medical errors decreased by nearly 38% after implementing a program to improve communication between healthcare providers, patients, and families, finds this study. A total of 3,106 pediatric patient admissions in seven US hospitals, 2,148 parents or caregivers, 435 nurses, 203 medical students, and 586 residents were involved…
Joint Commission issues new Sentinel Event Alert on developing a reporting culture to improve safety
Editor's Note The Joint Commission on December 10 issued a new Sentinel Event Alert on developing a reporting culture to improve healthcare safety systems. The alert explores guidance to eliminate fear of negative consequences for those reporting mistakes and unsafe conditions in their organizations. The alert also encourages learning from…
Cost-effectiveness analysis of implants used in total hip replacements
Editor's Note New research from the Hip Implant Prosthesis Study (HIPS) team at the University of Bristol Medical School that analyzed hip replacements in more than 1 million patients in the United Kingdom and Sweden found that: Small-head (less than 36 mm in diameter) cemented metal-on-polyethylene implants were the most…
Joint Commission announces new case study on wrong-site surgery safety
Editor's Note The Joint Commission on December 5 announced a new, free educational tool that details wrong-site surgery safety strategies--identifying risk factors and possible ways to improve processes. The case study lays out a situation in which a patient is scheduled for transbronchial biopsies of the right upper lung but…
Effect of CJR bundled payment program on care delivery
Editor's Note Participation in the Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement (CJR) bundled payment program was associated with changes in care delivery and compensation practices, this study finds. This survey of 73 orthopedic surgeons found that those practicing in CJR hospitals were more likely to report their hospitals had implemented programs…