QI program results in reduced readmissions, LOS for malnourished surgical patients
Editor's Note Malnourished hospitalized surgical and medical patients who participated in a nutrition quality improvement (QI) program had improved readmission rates and length of stay (LOS), but surgical patients had a significantly greater reduction in readmissions than medical patients, in this study. Of 1,269 patients analyzed, 288 were surgical patients…
Robot-assisted vs open cystectomy
Editor's Note Robot-assisted and open cystectomies are equally effective in treating bladder cancer, this 7-year study finds. Conducted at 17 institutions, 350 patients with bladder cancer were randomized to the open (175 patients) or the robot-assisted (175 patients) surgical approach. The researchers found lower blood loss and transfusion rates and…
Joint Commission seeking comments on anticoagulation NPSG
Editor's Note The Joint Commission announced on June 20 that it is seeking comments on proposed changes to the National Patient Safety Goal (NPSG) 03.05.01 on reducing harm from anticoagulant therapy. Revised requirements, which will address the use of new direct oral anticoagulant medications, include: drug selection dosing and monitoring…
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[Free Whitepaper] The Modern Hospital Operating Room: Overcoming Obstacles to Organizational Transformation
Brought to you by:ย Surgical services are typically the most profitable area for a hospital. With revenues often exceeding two-thirds of a hospitalโs total, these services have become the lifeline sustaining US hospitals in this turbulent healthcare market. Unfortunately, the culture and management structure in many hospital-based settings for surgical patient…
Atul Gawande named CEO of new Amazon led healthcare company
Editor's Note Surgeon and Harvard Medical School professor Atul Gawande, MD, has been named CEO of the Boston-based Amazon, JP Morgan Chase, and Berkshire Hathaway healthcare venture, the June 20 Modern Healthcare reports. The companies, which are focused on lowering the cost of care primarily for their nearly 1.2 million…
ALS by physicians linked to increased survival
Editor's Note In patients with traumatic out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) after traffic collisions, advanced life support (ALS) performed by physicians was associated with increased chance of 1-month survival compared with ALS or basic life support (BLS) performed by emergency medical services (EMS) personnel, this Japanese study finds. Of 4,328 patients…
Effectiveness of reprocessing reusable flexible bronchoscopes
Editor's Note In a study on the effectiveness of reprocessing flexible bronchoscopes presented June 14 by Ofstead and Associates at the Association for Professionals in Infection Controlโs annual conference in Minneapolis, the majority of bronchoscopes were found to be contaminated and damaged even when cleaned and high-level disinfected according to…
FDA letter updates risks of Type III endoleaks with aortic endovascular graft systems
Editor's Note In a June 19 letter to healthcare providers, the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) says it continues to evaluate information from several sources, including manufacturers, on the risks associated with Type III endoleaks with various endovascular graft systems used for treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) and aorto-iliac…
Endoscope fluid, contaminants linger after faulty drying
What does it take to get endoscopes dry? That is the question that prompted a new study on endoscope drying effectiveness by Ofstead & Associates (St Paul, Minnesota). โWe asked that question after a study we did 2 years ago found that increasing the automated endoscope reprocessor [AER] drying cycle…