Editor's Note Nurse staffing rates in hospitals serving a high percentage of Black patients are worse than in hospitals serving fewer Black patients, a disparity that has significant implications for patient outcomes, according to a study from the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing. Published in the journal Nursing Research…

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Editor's Note A study presented at the ASH Annual Meeting 2024 found that the current Caprini score, a widely used model for assessing perioperative venous thromboembolism (VTE) risk, underestimates risk in Black patients while overestimating it in Latino patients. Hematology Advisor reported the news January 6. According to the article,…

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Editor's Note Postoperative thirst, affecting up to 89.6% of surgical patients, is a significant yet often overlooked source of discomfort, according to a recent study of ward and OR nurses in Japan. Published December 30 in Cureus, the study of how nurses recognized and address postoperative thirst revealed gaps in…

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Editor's Note The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued new draft guidance January 6 providing recommendations improving the use of pulse oximeters and supporting the safety of AI-enabled medical devices, among other topics. Released January 6, draft guidance supporting the safety and effectiveness of AI-enabled devices would, if…

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Editor's Note The Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI) has released the updated AAMI TIR17:2024; Compatibility of Materials Subject to Sterilization, its first revision since 2017. This guidance provides essential information for medical device manufacturers, designers, and sterilization professionals on how sterilization methods impact materials and packaging. Updates…

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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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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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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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