Study: High-paying medical specialty disparity persists as more women pursue surgical professions
Editor's Note Although women are underrepresented in high-compensation medical specialties, new research shows a significant increase in female applicants and matriculants to surgical specialties specifically. Published September 30 in JAMA Network, the study found that the proportion of women entering high-compensation surgical specialties rose from 28.8% to 42.4%. In contrast,…
How perioperative staff can combat human trafficking—Part 2
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…
Hospital touts benefits of virtual reality training for nurses
Editor's Note Virtual reality is making training more immersive for nurses at SSM Health St Mary’s Hospital in Janesville, Wisconsin, according to a September 11 article in GazetteXtra. Although a first for St Mary’s, virtual reality has already been adopted by other SSM Health facilities, the outlet reports. Donning googles…
Study: OR noise raises risk of surgical error
Editor's Note Often exceeding federal safety limits, OR noise contributes significantly to communication breakdowns, heightened cognitive load, and increased surgical errors, according to a review of literature published September 17 in Cureus. Identified noise sources include surgical instruments, alarms, and staff conversations, which can reach up to 120 decibels (dBA)—a…
Countdown to OR Manager Conference: Robotics in the ASC—Technology trends and what you need to know
Editor's Note A panel discussion at last year’s OR Manager Conference highlighted the benefits and challenges of introducing robotics into ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs), particularly for joint replacement surgical procedures. Hosted by Surgical Care Affiliates (SCA) and Stryker leaders, the session emphasized how robotic technology can help improve surgical outcomes,…
Countdown to OR Manager Conference: Lean and mean surgery centers—thinking outside the box
Editor’s Note Bob Winandy, MSN, MBA, RN, CEO of Brightside Surgical, Brightside Specialty Clinics, and Infinity Medical Management, LLC, shared insights on innovative practices for ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) at last year’s OR Manager Conference. With nearly 20 years of experience in surgical services, he emphasized the importance of flexibility,…
OR Business Management Conference: Lowest rates expire soon
Editor's Note The lowest rates in the last decade for the leading financial summit designed for business leaders in perioperative services will end September 6. The 2025 OR Business Management Conference, taking place February 10-12 at the Saddlebrook Resort in Tampa, Florida, offers attendees the opportunity to learn and network…
Water quality: 5 Ws and an H for sterile processing pros
Asking who, what, why, when, where, and how—otherwise known as the “5 Ws and an H”— is a time-tested way for writers and researchers to ensure comprehensive coverage of any topic. Here, we apply this framework from the perspective of sterile processing department (SPD) professionals seeking to start a water…
How perioperative staff can combat human trafficking—Part 1
Human trafficking (HT) is a global public health crisis and one of the fastest growing criminal enterprises that grosses hundreds of billions of dollars annually, all of which are tax-free profits made off the sale of human cargo. And yet, research shows the problem is poorly understood or recognized among…
Studies highlight success strategies for combatting handoff communication failure, care inequity
Editor's Note Recent research sheds new light on addressing two of the most pressing problems for surgical care: handoff communication failures and care bias and inequities leading to adverse—and preventable—events. These problems are the subjects of two separate success stories in the August issue of The Joint Commission Journal…
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