Editor's Note UC San Diego Health plans to pilot artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled camera systems to enhance patient safety, addressing risks like falls and bedsores, but leaders are also acknowledging challenges related to patient consent, compliance, and privacy. The San Diego Union-Tribune reported the news January 5. According to the article,…

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Editor's Note A significant increase in the use of neoadjuvant systemic cancer therapies is among the most notable findings from the first annual cancer report from The American College of Surgeons (ACS) National Cancer Database (NCDB). The report also emphasizes the value of early detection, innovative therapies, and robust datasets…

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Editor's Note US hospitals continue to face a shortage of intravenous (IV) fluids due to Hurricane-related damage to the Baxter manufacturing facility that was responsible for 60% of the nation’s supply, MedPage Today reported December 31. Citing a report from Baxter, the article notes that the manufacturer has restored eight…

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Editor's Note Immigration and trade policies proposed by President-elect Donald Trump could exacerbate challenges with healthcare staff and medical supply chains, according to recent reporting from Modern Healthcare and The Hill. As detailed by Modern Healthcare, stricter immigration policies could impede efforts to recruit skilled international workers, exacerbating gaps in…

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Takeaways • Visual management (VM) tools support Lean efforts, leading to improved quality and efficiency. • VM boards provide an overview of processes, facilitate problem solving, and promote staff-manager collaboration. • Other VM tools such as color coding and customized instrument trays can help reduce errors and save money. Lean…

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What happens when a surgeon uses the monopolar instrument set on 30-W coagulation mode to create an upper midline incision in a patient with a pacemaker? Pacemaker function is interrupted, causing a heart block that results in hemodynamic instability—or at least, this is what could happen without taking the necessary…

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Stem cell therapy is poised to revolutionize regenerative medicine. As these therapies advance, they may alter or even replace certain invasive surgical procedures. Already undergoing advanced clinical trials, orthopedic applications are likely candidates for attracting the earliest adopters. Results so far indicate significant potential for providing alternatives to implants, grafts,…

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Perioperative leaders are entering a time of uncertainty after 2024 proved to be transformative for inpatient and outpatient surgical care. Last year saw important updates from The Joint Commission and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) that emphasized improvements alongside ongoing challenges in safety, workforce shortages, reimbursement, and…

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Editor's Note Psilocybin therapy significantly reduces symptoms of depression in frontline clinicians who experienced psychological distress during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a randomized clinical trial published December 5 in JAMA Network Open.   The trial enrolled 30 clinicians, including physicians, advanced practice practitioners (APPs), and nurses, who provided frontline care…

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Editor's Note Although the term “value-based care” dates back nearly two decades, payer reimbursement models too often seem more like volume-based care. In a presentation at the upcoming OR Business Management Conference, scheduled February 10-12 at the Saddlebrook Resort in Tampa, Florida, economist Susanna Gallani, PhD, will delve into how…

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