Efforts to improve FCOTS may reduce overutilized OR time
Ccommon cost-saving strategies in the OR include increasing workflow efficiency, reducing turnover times, implementing standardized preoperative protocols, and improving surgical case scheduling and first case on-time starts (FCOTS). These interventions aim to decrease under- and overutilized time in the OR, but there is conflicting evidence about their economic value. Many…
The microhospital trend: ASC friend or foe?
Among the changes occurring in healthcare delivery is an emerging trend that suggests ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) may find themselves with a new type of business partner—or possible competition. That would be the microhospital, which occupies a fraction of the space of a standard inpatient hospital, with some, but not…
Study: Ureteroscopes remain contaminated after cleaning, sterilization
Editor's Note Techniques used to clean and sterilize flexible ureteroscopes left behind contamination that included debris, residue, and bacteria, in this study presented June 14 at the 44th Annual Conference of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control. Researchers with Ofstead & Associates (St Paul, Minnesota) sampled 16 ureteroscopes at…
New guideline targets total joint infections
Editor's Note The American College of Rheumatology (ACR) and American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons (AAHKS) have released a new guideline to help reduce postoperative total hip and knee infections through the perioperative management of antirheumatic medications. Among the recommendations: Discontinuing biologic therapy before surgery in patients with inflammatory…
FDA: Hospira recalls Sodium Bicarbonate, Quelicin, and Potassium Phosphates injections
Editor's Note The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on June 16 announced the recall by Hospira, Inc, a Pfizer company, of the following: 42 lots of 8.4% Sodium Bicarbonate Injection, USP, 50 mL vials 5 lots of Neut (Sodium Bicarbonate 4% additive solution) 5 mL vials 5 lots of Quelicin…
Value-based purchasing not linked to improvements in quality
Editor's Note In this study, Medicare’s Hospital Value-Based Purchasing (HVBP) program was not associated with improvements in quality measures of clinical process or patient experience. HVBP also was not associated with a significant reduction in two of three mortality measures (ie, acute myocardial infarction or heart failure). It was associated…
Joint Commission: Revisions to LS, EC chapters effective January 2018
Editor's Note Revisions to the Life Safety (LS) and Environment of Care (EC) chapters for Behavioral Health Care, Laboratory, Nursing Care Centers, and Office-Based Surgery accreditation programs, based on adoption of the 2012 editions of the National Fire Protection Association’s NFPA 101: Life Safety Code and NFPA 99: Health Care…
FDA issues Safety Alert for frameless stereotaxic navigation systems
Editor's Note The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on June 15 issued a Safety Alert for frameless stereotaxic navigation systems because of navigational accuracy errors during surgical procedures. Some of these errors have led to patient deaths, serious or life-threatening injuries, and inaccurate, aborted, or prolonged surgical procedures. The FDA…
Effect of multiple complications on postop mortality rates
Editor's Note Failure to rescue occurs predominantly in patients who have more than one complication with a dose-response relationship as complications accrue, this study finds. More than 266,000 patients in the Veterans Affairs Surgical Quality Improvement Program were included in the analysis. Of those who had a complication, more than half…
Half million providers to get 2% cut in Medicare payments
Editor's Note More than 500,000 physicians and other providers will get a 2% cut in their Medicare payments because of poor performance in the Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS), the June 13 Modern Healthcare reports. The penalties are based on 2015 claims data. Though Medicare is phasing out PQRS and…