FDA: Class I recall of Arkon Anesthesia Delivery System
Editor's Note The Food & Drug Administration on August 10 identified the recall of Spacelabs Healthcare’s (Snoqualmie, Washington) Arkon Anesthesia Delivery System as Class I, the most serious. The recall was issued because of the system going into a “failed state,” during which the mechanical ventilation function stops working. This…
Academic medical centers trailing on cost, quality measures
Editor's Note A new study by consultancy firm Navigant found that academic medical centers are trailing community hospitals across cost and quality measures. Among the findings: Cost per case was 5.8% higher at medical centers, equating to $3.1 million added annual operating expense per center. Cost per case disparity between high…
More than 3 million healthcare records breached in Q2
Editor's Note New data released in the Protenus Breach Barometer shows more than 3.14 million patient records were compromised in 142 breach incidents reported to Health and Human Services or the media from April to June 2018, the August 8 Healthcare Informatics reports. This number is up from 1.13 million…
Effect of sedation levels on postop delirium in elderly hip fracture patients
Editor's Note Limiting the level of sedation in elderly hip fracture patients with low comorbid states (Charlson comorbidity index [CCI] of 0) reduced postoperative delirium in this study. Of 200 elderly patients analyzed (100 in lighter sedation and 100 in heavier sedation levels), there was no statistically significant difference in…
Joint Commission: Four organizations recognized as Pioneers in Quality Expert Contributors
Editor's Note The Joint Commission on August 8 recognized four healthcare organizations as 2018 Pioneers in Quality Expert Contributors for their efforts to advance the evolution and utilization of electronic clinical quality measures (eCQMs). The organizations are: BJC Healthcare, St Louis MedStar St Mary’s Hospital, Leonardtown, Maryland Texas Health Resources,…
Environmental considerations for reusable vs disposable isolation gowns
Editor's Note Selecting reusable isolation gowns may result in significant environmental benefits compared with disposable gowns, this study finds. This analysis of 1,000 isolation gowns in a healthcare setting (24 reusable gowns from 8 suppliers, 16 disposable gowns from 5 suppliers) found that the reusable gowns resulted in a: 28%…
More older Americans are continuing to work
Editor's Note Not all older workers are counting the days until retirement, though they may cut back on hours, reports the August 1 MarketWatch. Reasons for continuing to work vary, but they are not always financial. Many seek to maintain a sense of purpose and productivity, the report says. The…
Hospitals using bundled payments report reduced SNF use and improved care integration
Editor's Note Hospitals participating in Medicare’s Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement model or its Bundled Payments for Care Improvement initiative for lower extremity joint replacement episodes report reducing skilled nursing facility (SNF) use and improving care coordination, in this survey. Interviews of executives or administrators in each of 22 hospitals…
CMS requires hospitals to post prices online
Editor's Note Part of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) final Hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment System and Long-Term Care Hospital Prospective Payment System rule for FY 2019, issued August 2, was a requirement that hospitals post the prices they charge for surgeries and other medical procedures online. The…
Hospital employment up 0.13% in July
Editor's Note US hospitals added 6,800 jobs in July to a seasonally adjusted 5,181,900, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported on August 3. That is 94,800 more employees than a year ago. The overall unemployment rate fell by 0.1% in July to 3.9%.