Terrorist incidents are increasingly frequent, and most US healthcare facilities have established mass casualty protocols to make sure they are prepared. Although treating large numbers of injured patients simultaneously is still the exception rather than the rule, many urban facilities regularly receive gunshot victims. A recent example of receiving multiple…

Read More

Healthcare facilities are places of healing. Sometimes they also can be places of danger and death—just like the rest of the world. When an ambulatory surgery center (ASC) became the site of a fatal stabbing 3 years ago, outpatient surgery leapt into the public eye, and not in a good…

Read More

Editor's Note An American College of Surgeons (ACS)-sponsored resolution to train more professional (ie, police, firefighters) and civilian first responders in the techniques of bleeding control and to place bleeding control kits with the responders was approved June 14 by the American Medical Association House of Delegates, ACS says in…

Read More

Editor's Note Orlando Regional Medical Center treated 44 of the Pulse nightclub shooting victims; nine died, the June 14 Modern Healthcare reports. A total of 26 surgical procedures were performed early Sunday morning, June 12, six more were performed on Monday, and eight were performed on Tuesday, June 14, with…

Read More

Editor's Note An algorithm that uses vehicle telemetry measurements can improve the guidance of motor vehicle victims to the most appropriate place for care, this study finds. The algorithm is a computer-based program that collects information, such as occupants’ use of seatbelts, airbag deployment, vehicle speed, and point of impact.…

Read More

Editor's Note Seven emergency general surgery procedures account for about 80% of all admissions, deaths, complications, and inpatient costs, this study finds. The seven procedures are: partial colectomy small bowel resection cholecystectomy operative management of peptic ulcer disease lysis of peritoneal adhesions appendectomy laparotomy. These seven procedures represent the greatest…

Read More

Editor's Note Expectant mothers who experience a traumatic injury and receive care at a hospital with a designated trauma center experience better outcomes than those treated at a nontrauma hospital, finds this study. The women are less likely to experience preterm labor, have a low birthweight infant, or have meconium…

Read More

Editor's Note The American Society of Anesthesiologists on December 7 released a new resource for hospitals, physicians, and OR personnel—the Operating Room Mass Casualty Management checklist. The tool helps anesthesiologists and OR personnel optimize their response and better manage the flow of patient care during mass casualty events. The checklist…

Read More

Editor's Note Including a health information exchange query into emergency department patient care could significantly reduce the number of tests ordered and reduce costs, finds this study. Efficient health information exchange was associated with a 52% reduction in lab tests and a 36% reduction in radiology exams per patient ordered…

Read More

An emergency situation in the OR can rattle even the most experienced surgeons, anesthesiologists, and staff. To help reduce anxiety and prompt a more effective response to emergencies, clinicians increasingly are turning to cognitive aids. These cognitive aids, routinely used for years in aviation and other high-hazard industries, are an…

Read More