Regulations/Legal
AMA letter expresses opposition to CRNA use of “nurse anesthesiologist” title
Editor's Note The American Medical Association (AMA) expressed “strong opposition” a proposed regulation in Washington, D.C., that would allow Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) to use the title “nurse anesthesiologist.” As detailed in a December 2 announcement, a letter to the D.C. Department of Health from AMA CEO James L.…
House report criticizes COVID-19 pandemic response, calls for reform
Editor's Note A Republican-led House subcommittee investigating the COVID-19 pandemic released a 520-page final report summarizing its two-year inquiry, outlining recommendations for future pandemic preparedness and critiquing both US and global responses to the crisis. CNN reported the news December 2. The report concludes that COVID-19 most likely emerged from…
FDA pilot program aims to expedite high-risk medical device recall communication
Editor's Note The US Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA’s) Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH) has initiated a pilot program to improve the speed of public notifications regarding high-risk medical device recalls. According to a November 21 announcement, this initiative aims to minimize the time between the FDA's awareness…
FDA Class 1 recalls target anesthesia workstations, ambulatory infusion pumps, ventilators
Editor's Note The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has designated Class 1 recalls—the most severe category indicating risk of serious injury or death—involving three systems: Atlan anesthesia workstations from Draeger, CADD-Solis ambulatory infusion pumps from Smiths Medical, and Trilogy Evo ventilators from Philips Respironics. FDA issued all three announcements…
CMS final rule for CY 2025: Key updates impacting Medicare payments, quality programs
Editor's Note The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued its final rule for the 2025 calendar year, updating payment systems and quality reporting requirements across healthcare settings, JD Supra November 19 reports. Effective January 1, 2025, the rule outlines significant changes to Medicare payments and conditions for participation…
Practice updates ease steam sterilization balancing act
Reliable and robust enough for daily use on most medical devices, steam is the most common sterilant in healthcare facilities. However, using steam properly requires a balancing act. For example, too much moisture can lead to wet packs, while steam that is too dry might not be sufficient to achieve…
Tardiness policies fine-tune rural OR reform efforts
When a speaker at a recent conference asked if anyone had achieved a first-case on-time start (FCOTS) rate above 90%, Jay Parker, BSN, RN, could have been the only one in the room with his hand up. However, Parker was not inclined to call attention to himself. As director of…
GAO urges HHS to strengthen cybersecurity oversight
Editor's Note A November 13 report from The Government Accountability Office (GAO) identifies critical gaps in the Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) ability to manage cybersecurity risks in the healthcare and public health sector. HHS, the lead federal agency for cybersecurity in this sector, faces challenges in monitoring…
AMA urges stronger radiation protections
Editor's Note Amid growing concerns about healthcare workers’ exposure to ionizing radiation and its associated cancer risks, the American Medical Association (AMA) House of Delegates called for increased protective measures and standardized guidelines, including improved exposure metrics, during their interim meeting in Orlando, Florida. MedPage Today reported the news November…
Blast from the past: Best practices for successful implementation of ERAS
Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) represents a transformative approach in modern surgical care, emphasizing evidence-based, multidisciplinary protocols to optimize patient recovery. Spanning decades, ERAS has grown from a novel concept into a global standard for perioperative care, with benefits that include shorter hospital stays, fewer complications, and reduced healthcare costs.…
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- Study: Non-operative management of pediatric appendicitis cost-effective compared to surgery
- AMA letter expresses opposition to CRNA use of “nurse anesthesiologist” title
- House report criticizes COVID-19 pandemic response, calls for reform
- Medical device coating could reduce blood clot risks
- FDA pilot program aims to expedite high-risk medical device recall communication
- Surgeons implant first medically suspended heart pump in US
- Study: COVID-19's impact on oncological surgery offers lessons for future crises
- Study links pandemic stress to persistent increases in nursing-sensitive quality indicators
- Save the date for the 2025 OR Business Management Conference
- Study: Education, exercise improve knee OA with or without prior surgery