Editor’s Note In the December 12 episode of the American Hospital Association (AHA) Advancing Health podcast, Ellen Brzytwa, RN, trustee at the Cleveland Clinic, discussed why more nurses should serve on hospital governing boards. With a background in psychiatry and behavioral and public health, Brzytwa became the first nurse trustee…
Staffing crises continue to plague the healthcare industry, but that cannot continue to be the focus of perioperative leaders. That was the poignant message that underscored the attendee experience at the 36th OR Manager Conference in Nashville, Tennessee. After attending the engaging keynotes, numerous breakout sessions, and several networking events,…
Takeaways Clinical hours per case is a simple, yet effective, productivity metric. Analysis of productivity measures can include benchmarking against external and internal data. A positive work culture will improve staff productivity. Productivity is a foundational concept for leaders of ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs). “Measuring productivity is essential to be…
Editor's Note There is a lack of gender, ethnic, and racial diversity in leadership roles in US academic surgery departments, according to a new study in JAMA Surgery that was published on October 11. The authors included in their analysis 154 surgical departments within 146 medical schools and affiliated hospitals…
Editor's Note Steven Rosenberg, MD, PhD, chief of the Surgery Branch at the Center for Cancer Research at the National Cancer Institute, part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and a pioneer in the development of immunotherapy to fight cancer, was awarded the National Medal of Technology and Innovation.…
Perioperative nursing, like any field, requires authenticity, honesty, and integrity for successful management. As perioperative represents one of the most challenging and demanding healthcare environments, patient-centered leadership is a must. This article previously published by OR Manager, titled "Words of wisdom: OR leaders offer tips for new managers," expands on…
Editor's Note This study, titled "Leadership and Impostor Syndrome in Surgery" and published in the October 2023 issue of the Journal of the American College of Surgeons, examined how impostor syndrome–an internalized sense of incompetence and not belonging–impacts surgeons holding leadership positions in healthcare. The study included 2,183 attending and…
Measuring productivity can be a burden for perioperative leaders and their staff, but it also can serve as a means for obtaining needed resources. Part 1 of OR Manager’s two-part series on productivity measurement focused on the value of measuring, challenges, and deciding what should be assessed (see September issue,…
Editor's Note What is a hard stop? “Think about it,” Amy Bethel, MPA, BSN, RN, NE-BC, education coordinator for the OR Business Management Conference, urged this year’s OR Manager Conference attendees. “You all know what a hard stop is, and I know all of you have had hard stops. But…
Editor's Note “The OR is an inherently stressful environment,” Jessica Atkinson, BSN, BSAVS, RN, CNOR, nurse manager, operating room, at Maine Medical Center, told attendees on Tuesday morning at the OR Manager Conference. The session delved into how both new and experienced leaders need to recognize and manage disruptive behavior…