Each year, the OR Manager Conference showcases the latest hybrid OR technology along with expert advice from clinicians and manufacturers. The 2017 conference (October 2-4 in Orlando, Florida) will feature an extensive exhibit and opportunities to interact with the Hybrid OR Steering Committee members (sidebar, p 15): • Monday, 2…

Read More

Uncertainties pepper the healthcare landscape, but the shift to value-based care is expected to continue, even though momentum may slow under the current administration. That means perioperative services leaders must continue to explore new care delivery options such as the perioperative surgical home (sidebar, p 17). “The demand for value…

Read More

Editor's Note In the annual Physician Practice Preference & Relocation Survey from The Medicus Firm, nearly 3 in 10 physicians say concerns about appropriate compensation is the primary reason they would consider a career change, the July 5 FierceHealthcare reports. More than 17% of respondents say they will “likely” or…

Read More

Editor's Note Safety-net hospitals treat a disproportionate number of patients with advanced appendicitis and use laparoscopy less often, but their rates of morbidity and costs are similar to other hospitals, this study finds. In this analysis of 349 nonfederally funded hospitals in California performing 274,405 appendectomies, safety-net (compared with non-safety-net)…

Read More

Editor's Note The American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons and the Society of American Gastrointestinal Endoscopic Surgeons have jointly published new clinical practice guidelines on enhanced recovery after colon and rectal surgery. The enhanced recovery protocol is multidisciplinary, including physicians, nurses, physical therapists, and dietitians and involves all aspects of care…

Read More

Editor's Note Four new performance measures are available for the Joint Commission’s Total Hip and Total Knee Replacement (THKR) advanced certification program, the Joint Commission announced on July 5. They are: THKR-1 Regional anesthesia THKR-2 Postoperative ambulation on the day of surgery THKR-3 Discharged to home THKR-4 Preoperative functional/health status…

Read More

Editor's Note Development of and adherence to quality indicators by providers may improve the quality of emergency general surgery, for which current outcomes are modifiable, finds this study. Of 25 quality indicators developed and rated as valid, there were 13 for patient-level and 12 for hospital-level quality. Adherence with 18…

Read More

Editor's Note A Market Research Future report predicts the global market for spinal implants will reach $14 billion by 2011 because of an increasing prevalence of spinal injuries and disorders and an aging population, according to the July 5 Becker’s Spine Review. The costliness of spinal implants and unfavorable reimbursement…

Read More

Editor's Note High Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Overall Hospital Quality Star Ratings were not associated with improved patient outcomes in advanced laparoscopic abdominal surgery, this study finds. Morbidity at low-star hospitals was higher for colorectal surgery but not for bariatric or hiatal hernia surgery, and no significant…

Read More

Editor's Note Emergency department (ED) visits after total joint procedures were numerous and mostly for pain-related diagnoses, and Medicaid patients had almost double the risk of an ED or pain-related ED visit, this study finds. Of 152,783 patients analyzed, 3.42% returned to the inpatient setting and 5.81% visited the ED…

Read More