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, “For Our Patients and Their Visitors: Help Prevent Infections,” is derived from the resource, “Compendium 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. That’s 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, we’ll 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 year—it provides a multitude…
New business management resource
Editor's Note A new book, Dollar$ and $ense: Using Data-Driven Business Models to Boost the Bottom Line, will soon be published. This must-have resource is a compilation of OR Manager articles focusing on data analytics, financial management, reimbursement, technology, and trends in ambulatory surgery. The articles reflect industry trends and…
Karlene Power to receive Best in OR Business Award
Editor's Note The Best in OR Business Award will be presented on Thursday, February 1, at the 2018 OR Business Management Conference to Karlene Power, MSN, BSN, RN, system executive director, perioperative service line, at Banner Health in Phoenix. The award recognizes an individual who makes complex logistical decisions, meets scheduling…
Consider using proven cost-saving strategies
Editor's Note Business managers in need of cost-saving strategies won’t want to miss the opportunities to learn from their colleagues on Thursday, February 1, during the 2018 OR Business Management Conference. Effective inventory management is one obvious strategy, but how to reduce supplies while still satisfying providers is not always…