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…

Read More

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 device’s airpath. The contaminants exceed acceptable levels if the…

Read More

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…

Read More

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…

Read More

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…

Read More

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,  the August 17 WIRED reports. The Digital Health Security…

Read More

Editor's Note This study from the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, examines whether the decision to operate or not operate for an emergency general surgery condition affects Black and White patients differently. A total of 556,087 Medicare patients (59,519 Black and 496,568 White) were included in the analysis. Overall, 165,932 (29.8%)…

Read More

Editor's Note Two New York (NY) Upstate Medical hospitals, University and Community General, reimposed their mask mandates on August 17 after an increase in COVID-19 cases was announced, and testing is also now required for all patients admitted to the hospitals, The Daily News reports. According to a memo sent…

Read More

Editor's Note The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), on August 17, identified the recall by Abiomed of the labeling for its Impella RP Flex with Smart Assist System Catheter as Class I, the most serious. The recall was initiated because the catheters’ instructions for use did not appropriately address precautions…

Read More

Takeaways It takes an average of 112 days to fill an open RN position and 130 days to fill an open ST position, according to survey results. Turnover rates have decreased slightly but remain high. Most OR leaders are finding it more difficult to recruit RNs and STs, compared to…

Read More