OR Manager Conference Session Recap
In Fall 2023, 700 operating room leaders gathered in Nashville, Tennessee for the OR Manager Conference to network, learn, and explore new products. As hospitals and healthcare systems continue to manage operations in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, an environment defined by growing demand for care and continued constraints…
Predicting the pathogen behind the next pandemic
Editor's Note Scientists are focusing on the next group of pathogens that could cause a pandemic and are zeroing in on paramyxovirus—a family of single-stranded RNA viruses—The Atlantic October 29 reports. According to the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, paramyxovirus is known to cause Hendra virus, measles, mumps, Nipah virus,…
Video laryngoscopy leads to higher success rates than direct laryngoscopy
Editor's Note Video laryngoscopy was found to lead to higher intubation success rates over direct laryngoscopy in critically ill adult patients, an August 2023 randomized controlled trial published by the The New England Journal of Medicine shows. The findings were consistent whether they were intubated in an emergency room or…
A closer look at variations in regional health insurance prices
Editor's Note This new study in JAMA Health Forum is one of the first to review publicly available insurer price data and compare regional rate differences. The research was published by JAMA Network on October 27. Following are some highlights: Over half of the US population receives health insurance from…
Injectable gel shows promise for regenerating cartilage without surgery
Editor's Note Researchers from University of Connecticut, Peking University School, and Eli Lilly & Company have designed an injectable gel that could someday provide scaffolds for human cartilage without surgery. The findings were published by Nature Communications on October 6. Some highlights include: The injectable, biodegradable piezoelectric (electricity-producing) hydrogel can…
New upload process for Joint Commission certification program documents
Editor's Note A new process has been put in place for uploading documents for all certification programs to The Joint Commission, the regulatory and accreditation agency reported on October 25. Required documents must now be uploaded to the organization’s Joint Commission Connect® extranet site, rather than to SharePoint. Any Joint…
UChicago Medicine receives 2023 Tyson Award for healthcare equity program
Editor's Note The University of Chicago Medicine has been awarded the 2023 Bernard J. Tyson National Award for Excellence in Pursuit of Healthcare Equity for the success of its Systematic Treatment and Management of Postpartum Hypertension (STAMPP-HTN) program, The Joint Commission October 25 reports. According to The Joint Commission news…
Emerging pathogens widespread in mechanical ventilators
Editor's Note Patients in Maryland hospitals on mechanical ventilators were exposed to two dangerous pathogens, which are becoming growing threats in hospital systems, according to a new report published on October 12 by JAMA Network. The report analyzed survey data from 51 participating healthcare facilities. The data included 482 patients…
Gender pay gap identified for gastroenterologists
Editor's Note According to a report by researchers from the University of Virginia Healthcare System, there is a significant gender pay gap in Center for Medical Services (CMS) reimbursements for gastroenterologists, Gastroenterology & Endoscopy News October 19 reports. The findings were reported in this poster presentation as well as first…
Over 7,500 steps per day done preop leads to better outcomes
Editor's Note Active daily habits–specifically getting more than 7,500 steps a day before a surgical procedure–cuts the odds of complications within 90 days after discharge in half, regardless of the complication of a patient’s operation, MedicalXpress October 20 reports. The findings were presented at the American College of Surgeons Clinical…