Joint Commission issues advisory on nonpharmacologic, nonopioid treatments for pain
Editor's Note The Joint Commission on August 28 issued a new Quick Safety advisory that focuses on evidenced-based, nonopioid and nonpharmacologic treatment options for pain. Among the options: behavioral/cognitive/psychological interventions (ie, meditation, progressive muscle relaxation) environmental-based interventions (ie, lighting alterations, music therapy) physical interventions (ie, acupuncture, massage therapy, spinal manipulation)…
Effect of Foley catheter placement by medical students on postop CAUTIs
Editor's Note Patients who have Foley catheters placed by medical students in the OR are at increased risk of postoperative catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs), this study finds. This analysis included 891 patients who had Foley catheters placed in the OR by surgical residents (547 patients), OR nurses (227), or…
FlexDex signs distribution deal with Olympus
Editor's Note A deal has been signed by Olympus with FlexDex Surgical to distribute its wrist-controlled Needle Driver robotic device, the August 23 Medical Design & Outsourcing reports. The FlexDex Needle Driver, which is used to streamline suturing in areas of the abdomen that are hard to access, will complement…
Assistive surgical devices win in biomedical engineering design competition
Editor's Note This yearโs three winners of the Design by Biomedical Undergraduate Teams (DEBUT) challenge included assistive surgical devices: First placeโ$20,000 went to a team from Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, for a minimally invasive brain retractor. Second placeโ$15,000 was awarded to a team from Clemson University, South Carolina, for a…
CDPH penalizes 13 hospitals
Editor's Note The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) on August 23 issued 16 penalties to 13 hospitals and fines of more than $1 million. Among the penalties issued, four were OR related: OR fire unintended retention of a foreign object (blue towel) wrong site surgery malfunction of a heart-lung…
Effects of hypnosis before general anesthesia on postop outcomes
Editor's Note In this study, no benefit of hypnosis before general anesthesia was found on postoperative pain, but it had other benefits, such as less fatigue and anxiety (especially in patients who thought they received hypnosis, but did not) and higher patient satisfaction scores. A total of 150 women having…
Hospital execs facing shortage of physicians, nurses
Editor's Note A Navigant analysis of survey data from the Healthcare Financial Management Association finds that hospital executives are facing continued shortages of physicians, nurses, and mental health providers in the coming years, and they will be focusing on labor and supply chain productivity to reduce hospital operating expenses, the…
Researchers discover how to convert types A and B blood into O
Editor's Note A team of researchers from the University of British Columbia used enzymes from bacteria in the human gut to remove antigens from AB, A, and B blood, which effectively turns the blood into universal donor type O,ย according to the August 21 bigthink.com. The team reported their findings…
Understanding, supporting emotional impact of harmful events
Editor's Note A multidisciplinary group gathered at an Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality conference to develop a research agenda that includes immediately actionable and long-term research strategies to mitigate the emotional toll of harmful medical events on patients and families. The group reached consensus on four research priorities: Establish…
Joint Commission revises requirements for medication compounding
Editor's Note The Joint Commission announced on August 22 that several revisions will be implemented to the Medication Compounding Certification program and Home Care Accreditation programโs Medication Compounding chapter, effective January 1, 2019. The revisions were made to maintain consistency with current United States Pharmacopeia (USP) 795 (Pharmaceutical CompoundingโNonsterile Preparations)…