Anesthesiology research pipeline needs boost
Editor's Note Anesthesiology needs to bolster initiatives to improve the size and diversity of research scientists in its pipeline, according to a new study by the Anesthesia Research Council (ARC), titled "The Anesthesiology Physician-Scientist Pipeline: Current Status and Recommendations for Future Growth" and published in the October 2023 Anesthesia &…
Assistance program leads to major drop in ER visits, costs for immigrants
Editor's Note A study from economists and public health officials in the September 2023 issue of the journal American Economic Review: Insights found that when undocumented immigrants were provided assistance to visit primary care doctors via a pilot program, it resulted in a 21% drop in emergency room (ER) use.…
Anesthesia & Analgesia journal devotes October issue to DEI
Editor's Note Citing the pervasive connections between healthcare disparities and race and gender, Anesthesia & Analgesia, the oldest publication dedicated exclusively to the specialty of anesthesiology, is devoting its October 2023 issue to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) topics in the field. The issue lays out a number of practical…
Long nursing shifts in mental health wards lead to increased patient incidents
Editor's Note A new study in Journal of Nursing Management, published on September 6, found that when the majority of nursing shifts in mental health and community wards were 12 hours or longer, there was a significant increase in the risk of patient incidents. Some highlights of the study include:…
Closing keynote: Revolutionizing Healthcare with Artificial Intelligence (AI)—Reducing Administrative Burden and Improving Staff Satisfaction
Editor's Note “We really need leaders like you who understand healthcare,” said Harvey Castro, MD, MBA, serial healthcare entrepreneur and ChatGPT healthcare advisor, when speaking to OR Manager Conference attendees about adopting artificial intelligence (AI) during the Wednesday morning closing keynote. "But we also need healthcare leaders who understand AI…
Postoperative session: PACU Boarding and Patient Experience—There are No Beds in the House!
Editor's Note “What happens when two worlds collide?” asked one of the speakers when discussing the combination of the postanesthesia care unit (PACU) and the inpatient unit at Cohen Children’s Medical Center. The speakers were Cohen Children's Sharon Goodman, DNP, RN, NPD-BC, CPNP, director, pediatric service line; Kristen Martin, MSN,…
Leadership session: Empowering Your Team to Ensure Patient Safety
Editor's Note What is a hard stop? “Think about it,” Amy Bethel, MPA, BSN, RN, NE-BC, education coordinator for the OR Business Management Conference, urged this year’s OR Manager Conference attendees. “You all know what a hard stop is, and I know all of you have had hard stops. But…
ASC luncheon: Quality Measure Reporting Updates for ASCs
Editor’s Note In this luncheon presentation, OR Manager Conference attendees delved into the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Quality Measure Reporting Program for ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs). Gina Throneberry, MBA, RN, CASC, CNOR, director of education and clinical affairs at the Ambulatory Surgery Center Association (ASCA), shared which quality…
Leadership session: Establishing an Environment of Continuous Improvement
Editor's Note Establishing an environment of continuous improvement is crucial to the quality of patient care, speakers told attendees during this Monday afternoon session at the OR Manager Conference. They shared how they improved the quality of care with a performance improvement initiative targeting first case on-time starts (FCOTS). Matthew…
Business session: Profitability in the OR—Benchmark Your OR's Performance
Editor's Note “Has your CNO [chief nursing officer] ever said you are the CEO of your department?” Jessica Gruendler, DNP, senior director of nursing, Perioperative Services, at Dignity Health, posed to OR Manager Conference attendees at the start of this session in a packed room with standing room only. A…