SSI rates before, after reuse of PPE during pandemic
Editor's Note This study from Trinity Health, Ann Arbor, Michigan, compares prepandemic surgical site infection (SSI) rates before reusing personal protective equipment (PPE), to pandemic SSI rates after reusing PPE in trauma surgical patients. A total of 48,987 patients were included in the analysis, with half in the postpandemic group.…
The Joint Commission: Updated Accelerate PI Dashboard Reports available
Editor's Note The Joint Commission, on August 23, announced that updated Accelerate PI Dashboard Reports are available for hospitals, critical access hospitals, and nursing centers. The reports provide performance measurement data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services on a select subset of quality measures through the second quarter…
FDA: Class I recall of Draeger Carina Sub-Acute Care Ventilators
Editor's Note The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), on August 23, identified the recall by Draeger Medical of its Carina Sub-Acute Care Ventilators as Class I, the most serious. The recall was initiated because of the presence of contaminants in the deviceโs airpath. The contaminants exceed acceptable levels if the…
OR Manager Conference session sheds light on profitability, revenue integrity
Editor's Note OR Manager sat down with Jessica Gruendler, DNP, senior director of nursing, perioperative services at Dignity Health in San Francisco, California, to shed light on the topic she will be presenting at the 2023 OR Manager Conference in Nashville, TN, this September. Gruendler will present her session, โProfitability…
Sociodemographic disparities in PONV
Editor's Note This study led by researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham examines the associations between sociodemographic factors and the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) and clinician adherence to PONV prophylaxis protocols. A total of 8,384 patients were included in the analysis. When PONV prophylaxis protocols…
Study: Medical-surgical nurse leadersโ evidence-based practice attributes
Editor's Note This study led by nurse researchers from the Ohio State University College of Nursing, Columbus, examines the capacity of medical-surgical nurse leaders to implement evidence-based practices (EBPs) into their organizations. Using a cross-sectional design survey methodology, the researchers found that: Senior nurse leaders reported higher EBP attributes compared…
The Joint Commission announces hospital program revisions to align with CAH changes and CMS CoPs
Editor's Note The Joint Commission, on August 22, announced changes to its hospital accreditation program to better align with critical access hospital (CAH) program changes and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Conditions of Participation (CoPs), effective January 1, 2024. The changes include: New Elements of Performance on compliance…
Study: Transitioning back to reusable surgical gowns
Editor's Note In this study, researchers from the University of California, San Francisco, examine the feasibility of transitioning back to reusable surgical gowns and the corresponding cost savings and reductions in solid waste. Disposable surgical gowns were replaced with polyester reusable surgical gowns with AAMI level III barrier protection that…
HHS: ARPA-H project to strengthen healthcare cybersecurity
Editor's Note The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) announced that it is seeking proposals through September 7 to help fund and develop cybersecurity technologies for healthcare systems, clinics, and healthcare-related devices,ย the August 17 WIRED reports. The Digital Health Security…
The Joint Commissionโs revised medication compounding requirements include perioperative settings
Editor's Note The Joint Commission announced, on August 22, that it had revised its requirements related to medication compounding for accredited hospitals and critical access hospitals, effective January 1, 2024. The revisions include Element of Performance (EP) 3 for National Patient Safety Goal (NPSG) NPSG.03.04.01: "Label all medications, medication containers,…