Vanderbilt heart transplant program reaches new record
Editor's Note Nashville's Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) performed a record number of heart transplants in 2017, making it the second-busiest heart transplant program in the country. VUMC performed a record 97 heart transplantations, ย including pediatric cases, which surpassed the 2016 milestone of 92. Vanderbilt is building a program that…
FDA clears updated design, labeling for Pentax duodenoscope
Editor's Note The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on February 7 announced that it had cleared the updated design and labeling for Pentax Medical's duodenoscope Model ED-3490TK. Pentax replaced the forceps elevator mechanism, O-ring seal, and distal end cap, and updated the Operation Manual to recommend annual maintenance. The design…
Colorectal ERP improves outcomes, lowers costs despite use of expensive drugs
Editor's Note Implementation of an enhanced recovery pathway (ERP) for colorectal surgical patients substantially reduced length of stay, total hospital costs, and direct pharmacy costs without increasing complications or readmission rates in this study. The study, which included 160 colorectal patients before ERP was implemented and 146 patients after implementation,…
New brochure focuses on HAI prevention
Editor's Note The Joint Commission on January 31 announced that a new brochure is available to help healthcare organizations inform patients about healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) and prevention. The brochure, titled, โFor Our Patients and Their Visitors: Help Prevent Infections,โ is derived from the resource, โCompendium of Strategies to Prevent Healthcare-Associated…
FDA: Class I recall of AirLife Humidification Chamber, Heated Breathing Circuit Kits
Editor's Note The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on January 31 classified the recall by Vyaire Medical (Mettawa, Illinois) of its AirLife Humidification Chamber and Heated Breathing Circuit Kits as Class I, the most serious. The recall was initiated because of a manufacturing error that may cause parts of the…
NSQIP: Effect of modifications to OR attire on SSIs
Editor's Note Implementation of stringent OR attire policies that include full coverage of ears and facial hair do not reduce surgical site infection (SSI) rates, finds this study. Researchers compared National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) data from all patients having surgery 9 months before implementation (3,077) to 3,440 patients…
CMS: Two exercises of emergency operations plan required annually
Editor's Note The Joint Commission reported on January 31 that it had confirmed with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) that organizations are required to have two exercises of their emergency operations plan annually. Among the organizations to which the requirement applies are: deemed hospitals critical access hospitals…
Healthcare adds 21,500 jobs in October
Editor's Note Healthcare employment in the US rose in January to a seasonally adjusted 15,888,400 workers, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported on February 2. Thatโs 20,600 more workers than in December and 294,900 more than a year ago. ESTABLISHMENT DATA Table B-1. Employees on nonfarm payrolls by industry sector…
Stay connected through OR Manager
Editor's Note Each month, OR Manager presents a mix of leadership, business, regulatory, and clinical topics. Upcoming issues will feature news from both the 2017 OR Manager Conference and the 2018 OR Business Management Conference. In the March issue, weโll explore: ways to avoid staff shortages leadership strategies to engage…
ORBMC helps you build a better business year by year
Editor's Note Changes in healthcare provider payment models, regulations, and standards, along with new individual insurance plans, are among the factors that have increased the complexity of managing the OR. Attending the annual OR Business Management Conference (ORBMC) is a great way to start each new yearโit provides a multitude…