Editorial
Last year saw healthcare professionals grapple with unimaginable challenges. For perioperative nurses in particular, a pressing issue was and continues to be staffing. This is a topic that is brought up time and again—in conversations, meetings, events, and everything in between. Questions that most OR managers are still considering include:…
Takeaways and lessons learned from OR Manager Conference
After more than a year in hiatus, OR Manager Conference was held in October 2021 in Chicago, bringing together hundreds of attendees, speakers, and exhibitors. After the live conference, OR Manager sat down with Cindy Kildgore, education coordinator for the OR Manager Conference; Amy Bethel, education coordinator for the OR…
Mental health in the pandemic: New competencies required
In its almost 2-year reign, the pandemic has exacerbated mental health and well-being issues for nurses—perioperative nurses included—-and illuminated the need for OR managers to be visible, observant, and encouraging of mental health care. “No one is built for this type of persistent, prolonged uncertainty. It’s not how we’re hard-wired,”…
CDC: Surveillance of Omicron variant in US
Editor's Note On December 1, the first case of COVID-19 attributed to the Omicron variant was reported in the US, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). As of December 8, Omicron variant cases had been reported in 22 states, including some that indicated community transmission. Of…
Appeals court upholds halt on COVID-19 vaccine mandate for HCWs
Editor's Note The US Court of appeals for the 8th Circuit, on December 13, affirmed a lower court’s decision to halt the COVID-19 vaccination mandate for healthcare workers (HCWs) at facilities participating in Medicare and Medicaid programs, the December 14 Becker’s Hospital Review reports. The court turned down the Biden…
COVID-19 surpasses EHRs as cause of physician, nurse burnout
Editor's Note A new KLAS Research report finds that COVID-19 has surpassed electronic health records (EHRs) as a primary source of clinician burnout, the December 7 EHR Intelligence reports. The report also finds that nurses have different sources of burnout than physicians since the start of the pandemic: After-hours workloads…
Pfizer says COVID-19 booster protects against Omicron variant
Editor's Note On December 8, Pfizer said its COVID-19 booster was found to provide significant protection against the Omicron variant in a laboratory study, the December 8 Becker’s Hospital Review reports. Blood samples from those who received three doses of the vaccine saw similar neutralization against the Omicron variant as…
COVID-19 screening tool helps identify HCWs who should be tested
Editor's Note This study led by researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, investigates the effectiveness of a daily attestation system for healthcare workers (HCWs) to help identify COVID-19 cases and prevent spread. The attestation system, “COVID Pass,” comprises symptom-screening, self-referrals to occupational health services, and/or COVID-19 testing. Researchers analyzed…
Change in volume of surgical procedures during COVID-19 pandemic
Editor's Note In this study, researchers from Stanford University School of Medicine find that the initial COVID-19 shutdown from March through April 2020 resulted in a decrease in surgical volume to nearly half of baseline rates. After the reopening, surgical volume rebounded to 2019 levels, and the trend was maintained.…
New York to halt elective surgery at 32 hospitals
Editor's Note New York will require 32 upstate hospitals with limited capacity to halt elective surgical procedures as COVID-19 cases increase in the state, the December 7 Becker’s Hospital Review reports. The state defined limited capacity as less than 10% staffed bed capacity, or as determined by the health department…
Free Daily News
- Study: Longer shifts, understaffing increase nurse sickness absence
- Power loss risks prompt FDA Class 1 recall designation for heart pump accessories
- Therapy dogs ease nurse burnout, boost morale
- Personalized perioperative pain management reduces opioid use
- Study: Colibactin-producing gut bacteria fuel colorectal cancer surge
- Augmented reality gains FDA nod, 10k-case milestone in orthopedics, strides in outpatient surgery
- Smart patient selection anchors DISC’s high-acuity spine ASC model
- Postop opioid prescriptions following outpatient surgery see steep, sustained fall
- Study: Bariatric surgery offers cost, survival benefits for cirrhosis patients
- AI monitoring, remote surgery advance