Incidence, risk factors for SSIs after hysterectomy
Editor's Note In women undergoing hysterectomies largely because of gynecologic malignancies, duration of surgery was a significant surgical site infection (SSI) risk, finds this study. Choice of preoperative antibiotic did not affect SSI risk. Of 1,531 hysterectomies analyzed, there were 52 SSIs, with 60% being deep incisional or organ/space infections.…
Joint Commission issues new alert on safety culture
Editor's Note The Joint Commission on March 1 issued a new Sentinel Event Alert on โThe essential role of leadership in developing a safety culture.โ Leadershipโs failure to create an effective safety culture is contributing to adverse events such as wrong-site surgery and delays in treatment, the Joint Commission says.…
Effect of opt-out policy for physician supervision of anesthesia
Editor's Note Opting out of the Medicare rule that requires anesthesia to be administered with physician supervision has little or no effect on access to inpatient or outpatient surgery, this study finds. The researchers also found that opting out does not reduce costs, and in fact increases costs for inpatient…
Study: Nursesโ stress, coping behaviors after CPR fails
Editor's Note A survey of critical care nurses found moderate levels of postcode stress and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms after unsuccessful cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) of patients. In 490 nurses surveyed, four coping behaviors (ie, denial, self-distraction, self-blame, and behavioral disengagement) were significant predictors of PTSD symptom severity. Nurses who…
Healthgrades releases 2017 top hospitals list
Editor's Note Healthgrades (Denver) on February 24 released its list of Americaโs 50 and 100 Best Hospitals for 2017. The top 50 represent 1% of all hospitals and are located in 22 states. California has the most at 10, followed by Illinois with 7. The top 100 hospitals are those…
Pediatric kidney transplant success rates improve
Editor's Note The success rates of pediatric kidney transplants have significantly improved over the past 50 years, with young children now experiencing better long-term transplant success than adults, this study finds. Of 1,056 pediatric kidney transplant recipients analyzed, 85% were alive at 1 year after surgery 50 years ago, compared…
Executive order pushes back implementation of bundled payment models
Editor's Note An executive order by President Donald Trump that freezes new regulations has pushed back implementation of new and expanded Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) bundled payment models by 60 days, the February 20 Home Health Care News reports. Mixed feelings continue in the healthcare industry as…
FDA: Avella recalling injectable products labeled โlatex freeโ
Editor's Note The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on February 24 announced that Avella Specialty Pharmacy of Houston is recalling all unexpired sterile injectable products labeled โlatex freeโ that were produced at Advanced Pharmaโs Houston location between September 1, 2016 and February 16, 2017. Avella and Advanced Pharma have been…
Impact of intraop adverse events on readmissions
Editor's Note In this study from the Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, major intraoperative adverse events were independently associated with a two-fold increase in readmissions. Of 9,274 surgical procedures analyzed, 921 resulted in readmission. Of these, 183 had confirmed intraoperative adverse events, 73 of which were major events. Procedures with major…
Joint Commission: Changes to post-survey processes, decision rules
Editor's Note The Joint Commission on February 22 announced that recent changes had been made to simplify and streamline the accreditation post-survey process and decision rules. Among the changes: An organization with an accredited with follow-up decision will receive full accreditation once it has successfully submitted evidence of standards compliance.…