Regulations/Legal
Joint Commission issues new Sentinel Event Alert on managing risks of direct oral anticoagulants
Editor's Note In response to an increase in adverse events related to direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs), the Joint Commission, on July 31, issued a new Sentinel Event Alert on managing DOAC risks. The alert: provides guidance for safe use and management of DOACs stresses understanding the risks, benefits, side effects,…
CMS maintains site-neutral cuts in 2020 proposed rule
Editor's Note The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on July 29 issued the 2020 proposed payment rule for ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) and hospital outpatient departments (HOPDs), which would increase Medicare hospital outpatient prospective payment system rates by 2.7%. CMS is also proposing to add eight codes to…
FDA issues final guidance for drug-device combo products
Editor's Note The Food & Drug Administration (FDA) on July 22 issued a final guidance for makers of products that combine devices and drugs or biologics. The guidance clarifies how manufacturers should comply with recordkeeping requirements and how they should submit safety reports and avoid duplication.
Legal and ethical questions temper excitement about AI--Part 2
As part of a special series on artificial intelligence (AI), OR Manager is taking a deep dive into the many facets of this new technology and its impact on patient care. In this issue we continue our examination of the challenges related to AI, which began in last month’s issue…
CDC: Drug overdose mortality drops for the first time in 20 years
Editor's Note The US drug overdose mortality rate dropped 5.1% to 68,557 deaths last year, compared with 72,224 in 2017, the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) reported on July 17. It’s the first time overdose mortality has declined since 1999. The CDC noted that the death counts are…
House to vote on repeal of ACA’s tax on high-cost insurance plans
Editor's Note House Leaders will vote the week of July 15 on a measure to repeal the Affordable Care Act’s 40% tax on high-cost healthcare insurance plans, the July 12 Bloomberg Tax reports. The measure is expected to have wide bipartisan support. Democrat Rep Joe Courtney of Connecticut is the…
HHS forms group to streamline quality programs
Editor's Note The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced on July 9 that it has formed a summit of key industry stakeholders and government leaders to provide insight as the Trump administration seeks to streamline, improve, and align measures used across federal healthcare quality programs. The Quality Summit,…
Joint Commission deletes annual training requirement for fluoroscopy equipment
Editor's Note The Joint Commission on June 26 announced that, effective immediately, Human Resources (HR) standard HR.01.05.03, element of performance (EP) 15, has been deleted from the Hospital, Critical Access Hospital, Ambulatory Care, and Office-Based Surgery accreditation programs. The deleted EP is: “The [organization] verifies and documents that individuals (including…
Legal and ethical questions temper excitement about AI--Part 1
As part of a special series on artificial intelligence (AI), OR Manager is taking a deep dive into the many facets of this new technology and its impact on patient care. Part 1 and Part 2 of the introduction to AI (May 2019 and June 2019) defined types of AI…
Joint Commission: New requirement for office-based surgery fluoroscopy services
Editor's Note The Joint Commission announced June 5 that beginning January 1, 2020, accredited office-based surgery practices that provide fluoroscopy services will be required to comply with element of performance (EP) 17 of Environment of Care (EC) standard EC.02.02.01: The practice manages risks related to hazardous materials and waste. This…
Free Daily News
- FBI investigates as Oracle health data breach exposes patient information
- Study: Pulse oximeters may misestimate oxygen saturation in darker skin tones
- FDA issues Class 1 recall for vascular cannulas
- Renewed push for healthcare price transparency faces familiar challenges
- Survey: Tariffs expected to increase hospital costs, disrupt supply chains
- Study: Arthroplasty implants linked to metal accumulation in cerebrospinal fluid
- Novel noninvasive surgical approach shows promise in treating severe OCD
- Study: Preop mental health assessment improves postop outcomes for older patients
- Study: Adenotonsillectomy reduces healthcare use in children with mild sleep-disordered breathing
- Introducing New Leader Toolkit: Your guide to OR leadership success