The ASC Safety Officer Role โ Who, what, why, and how?
The safety officer plays an important role in helping a healthcare facility maintain a safe environment for patients, staff, and visitors. The person in this role should complement the safety plan in helping to reduce risk. Responsibilities of the safety officer include assisting in staff safety education, monitoring the environment,…
Study: Bachelorโs degree nurses better prepared than associate degree nurses
Editor's Note In this study, nurses with bachelorโs degrees were found to be significantly better prepared than nurses with associate degrees in 5 of 16 test topics between 2007 and 2008, and in 12 of 16 topics between 2014 and 2015. Researchers tested the quality and safety educational preparedness differences…
Joint Commission: 2019 National Patient Safety Goals now available
Editor's Note The Joint Commission announced on October 24 that the 2019 National Patient Safety Goals (NPSGs) are now available on its website. Included is a new element of performance (EP) for NPSG.01.01.01, EP3, which is designed to improve the naming convention of newborns after delivery to prevent medical errors…
Effect of wound photography for remote postop assessment of SSIs
Editor's Note Wound photography facilitates online postoperative wound assessment for surgical site infections (SSIs) but needs refinement to make sure critical issues arenโt missed, this study finds. A total of 523 surgeons reviewed online clinical vignettes with or without wound photography to diagnose SSIs. The addition of photography did not…
Joint Commission: Cardiac certifications available to all hospitals
Editor's Note The Joint Commission on October 24 announced that beginning January 1, 2019, any hospital wanting to pursue the Advanced Certification in Heart Failure or Comprehensive Cardiac Center Certification will no longer have to be accredited by the Joint Commission. The Joint Commission says it is making this change…
ACS NSQIP participation demonstrates sustained benefits in colorectal surgical outcomes
Editor's Note Most complications of colorectal resection steadily decreased and early hospital discharges increased over 10 years of participation in the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS NSQIP), finds this study presented October 24 at the American College of Surgeons 2018 Clinical Congress in Boston. Of…
Joint Commission Resources offers new survey readiness guide for surgical settings
Editor's Note ย Joint Commission Resources on October 24 announced the availability of a new accreditation prep guide specific for surgical settings. โSurvey Readiness Guide for Surgical Settings: Standards, Tracers, and Toolsโ is a self-assessment tool that includes all relevant Joint Commission accreditation standards and provides an overview of the survey…
FDA: Safety Communication on Raindrop Near Vision Inlay
Editor's Note The Food & Drug Administration (FDA) on October 23 issued a Safety Communication on the increased risk of corneal haze associated with the Raindrop Near Vision Inlay, which is surgically implanted in the cornea of one eye to improve near vision. The notice is to alert eye care…
Multimodal pain control minimizes need for postop opioids after outpatient mastectomy
Editor's Note Mastectomy patients treated with a new long-acting pain medication were able to be discharged the same day of surgery with a reduced need for opioids in this study presented October 23 at the American College of Surgeons 2018 Clinical Congress in Boston. A total of 100 mastectomy patients…
AHRQ offers free webinars on implementing enhanced surgical recovery program
Editor's Note The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) announced October 23 that free informational webinars will start October 29 for hospitals interested in implementing the AHRQ Safety Program for Improving Surgical Care and Recovery for gynecology, colorectal, hip fracture, or joint replacement procedures. The Johns Hopkins Armstrong Institute…