Periop nurses key in reducing readmissions after CABG surgery
Editor's Note Perioperative nurses engaging in patient and community education to explain coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery, reinforcing recommended discharge guidelines, and serving as expert resources are key to positive outcomes and reducing readmissions, finds this review article. In 2016, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services reduced payments…
ECRI Institute releases Top 10 Health Technology Hazards for 2018
Editor's Note The ECRI Institute on November 6 released its Top 10 Health Technology Hazards for 2018. The report identifies potential sources of danger involving medical devices and other healthcare technologies to watch for in the coming year. Topping the list is ransomware and other cybersecurity threats, followed by endoscope…
Joint Commission updates emergency management requirements
Editor's Note The Joint Commission on November 3 updated its emergency management requirements for hospital, ambulatory, home health, and hospice settings, effective November 15. The updated standards will assist healthcare organizations in more effectively planning for disasters and coordinate with federal, state, tribal, regional, and local emergency preparedness systems. The…
CMS finalizes outpatient PPS, ASC payment system, quality reporting changes for 2018
Editor's Note The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on November 1 announced it will update the hospital outpatient prospective payment system rates by 1.35%. The final rule also removes total knee arthroplasty from the inpatient only list along with five other procedures and adds one procedure to the…
Joint Commission redesigning Accreditation and Certification reports
Editor's Note The Joint Commission announced November 1 that it is redesigning its Accreditation and Certification reports to be more user-friendly.ย The redesigned reports will highlight the most relevant information about surveys and reviews, outcomes, and required follow-ups. Additional changes include: removing unnecessary white space andย repetitive text prioritizing and grouping…
One in five physicians intend to reduce work hours or leave the profession
Editor's Note The burden and bureaucracy of todayโs practice of medicine are major factors influencing physiciansโ intentions to reduce work hours or leave the profession, finds this study from the American Medical Association, Mayo Clinic, and Stanford University. Of nearly 36,000 physicians across all specialties surveyed, 6,880 (19.2%) responded.ย Nearly 1…
AAAHC develops new Orthopaedic Certification for ASCs
Editor's Note The Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAHC) announced on November 2 that it has developed a new Orthopaedic Certification program for ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs). After an ASC achieves overall accreditation, it can acquire the Orthopaedic Certification to demonstrate excellence in the specialty of orthopaedics by meeting…
Surveillance is safe for noncancerous, high-risk breast lesions
Editor's Note High-risk, noncancerous flat epithelial atypia (FEA) breast lesions can be treated with close observation rather than surgical removal in most cases, this study finds. The analysis of 208 patients diagnosed with FEA over a 9-year period found that after mammography, biopsy, and surgical excision, five lesions (2.4%) were…
Value of voluntary bundled-payment program unclear
Editor's Note For the third year in a row, researchers with the Lewin Group couldnโt determine whether Medicareโs voluntary Bundled Payment for Care Improvement initiative cuts costs and improves care, the October 31 Modern Healthcare reports. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) funded analysis found that although providers…
CMS issues guidance on MIPS information blocking component
Editor's Note The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued new guidance designed to offer clarity on the Merit-based Incentive Payment Systemโs (MIPS) data blocking component, the October 30 Healthcare Informatics reports. The guidance outlines how MIPS-eligible clinicians can show they are fulfilling the information blocking requirement, which…