Editor's Note As joint replacement (JR) procedures increasingly move from the hospital setting to ambulatory surgical centers (ASCs), selecting the right candidates for these outpatient procedures becomes crucial. To support this transition, study authors Madhav Chowdhry, MD, and Edward J. McPherson, MD, developed a comprehensive, evidence-based checklist called Checklist Outpatient-Joint…

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Editor's Note Joint guidance from key US medical associations advises that most patients on GLP-1 weight-loss medications, such as semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy) and tirzepatide (Mounjaro), may safely continue these drugs before surgery, HealthDay News reported October 31. Concerns had emerged about potential risks associated with these medications due to their…

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Editor's Note This session on converting hospital outpatient departments (HOPDs) into ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs), presented at the recently concluded OR Manager Conference, saw Joan Dentler, MBA, founder of Avanza Healthcare Strategies, share practical insights for healthcare leaders contemplating this transition. Dentler began by highlighting the history of ASCs, which…

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Editor's Note The Northtowns Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC) is set to open on October 24 in Amherst, New York, representing the culmination of a 5-year effort led by Brian McGrath, MD, an orthopedic surgeon at UBMD Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine, Buffalo Business First October 17 reports. Located within a 160,000-square-foot…

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Editor's Note A newly constructed surgical “megafloor” that connects inpatient and outpatient ORs promises to aid workflow and add flexibility for perioperative teams at The University of California Irvine (UCI) Health—Irvine campus, Healthcare Design reported October 7. As detailed in the article, the academic center must accommodate a variety of…

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Editor's Note Combining newer weight loss drugs with bariatric surgery is the most cost-effective long-term strategy for treating obesity, according to research presented at the American College of Surgeons Clinical Congress 2024. Medical Xpress reported on the findings October 18. According to the article, researchers from Northwestern Medicine evaluated the…

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Editor's  Note Aquablation is safe and effective for treating patients with benign prostatic hypoplasia (BPH) in ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs), according to a video published September 23 by the Urology Times. The video features a discussion with Kevin C. Zorn, MD, FRCSC, FACS, lead author of the study “Safety and…

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Editor's Note On October 14, Anesthesiology News published a monograph featuring clinical perspectives on how “those working in the trenches of postsurgical pain management” are preparing for the Non-Opioids Prevent Addiction in the Nation (NOPAIN) Act, which outlines new, separate Medicare reimbursement for certain non-opioid analgesics in outpatient and ambulatory…

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Editor's Note A Medicare policy introduced in 2020, which requires prior authorization for certain procedures done at hospital outpatient departments (HOPDs), has not significantly reduced the volume of surgical procedures being done at these facilities, reports a study by Michigan Medicine, University of Michigan, published on October 9. The policy,…

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ASC leaders’ satisfaction has increased significantly compared to a year ago, according to the 2024 OR Manager Salary/Career Survey. In all, 81% of respondents were satisfied with their current job/position, up from 70% in 2023, and 27% reported being “completely satisfied,” compared to 17% last year. In fact, the favorable…

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