Editor's Note Certain medical bills reclassifying minor procedures as “surgery” are driving up costs and causing confusion among patients, KFF Health News December 13 reports. Cases such as a $414 charge for a splinter removal with tweezers and a $469 charge for freezing a skin tag highlight how CPT codes…

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How should responsibilities associated with C-sections be divided between the OR team and the OB/GYN department at a staff-strapped rural hospital? This was just one of many questions I had never considered prior to attending the 2024 OR Manager Conference, which drew perioperative professionals to the MGM Grand in Las…

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Editor's Note   In a November 12 letter to Congress, the American Hospital Association (AHA) outlined its priorities for the lame-duck legislative session, focusing on measures to stabilize hospitals and health systems facing significant financial and operational pressures. If enacted, these recommendations would support the nation’s healthcare infrastructure amid rising…

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Editor's Note During Perioperative Nurses Week, OR Manager celebrated the incredible dedication and leadership of perioperative nurses who make a difference every day in the lives of their patients and teams. The expertise, compassion, and tireless commitment these nurses provide are the backbone of surgical care. In case you missed…

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Editor's Note When it comes to the 2024 presidential election, “Neither candidate addresses a return to the fundamental tenet of healthcare: the patient-physician relationship,” reads the closing line of an “election guide” from Richard Menger MD MPA. In the preceding paragraph, Menger also argues that both candidates also neglect issues…

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Editor's Note “There's nothing worse than putting a contract together, only for the anesthesia providers to say, ‘Oh, no, we're not going to do that,” Mindy Gingery, MSN, CRNA, ARNP, president of Heartland Anesthesia & Consulting, said, opening this morning session on anesthesia contract best practices for ambulatory surgery centers…

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Editor's Note Real-world experience in Texas—where more than 650 nurses marched on the capitol in support of workplace violence legislation—informed much of yesterday’s OR Manager Conference presentation on nurse legislative and policy advocacy from Serena Bumpus, DNP, RN, NEA-BC. Although nurses make up the largest healthcare workforce—around 5.2 million across…

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Editor's Note In honor of World Mental Health Day October 10, the American Nurses Foundation announced a free curriculum for improving nurse support and well-being. The free curriculum is available to all nurses. It includes an overview, a training guide for nurse leaders, an implementation guide, and the complete course,…

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Editor's Note The Heart Rhythm Society (HRS) announced the formation of Heart Rhythm Advocates, a new 501(c)(4) nonprofit advocacy organization aimed at bolstering support for cardiac electrophysiology (EP), Cardiac Rhythm News October 23 reports. This initiative complements HRS's existing 501(c)(3) nonprofit structure and responds to the increasing prevalence of atrial…

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Human trafficking (HT) is a hidden-in-plain-sight crime—victims walk among the public at large, yet they remain essentially invisible. Lack of education and knowledge on HT and anti-trafficking measures is particularly egregious in healthcare. In fact, the literature shows the majority of people being trafficked access the system without being identified…

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