What should you do if your sterilizer fails?
A sterilization failure is a significant event. Receiving a positive biological indicator (BI) result from a sterilizer can be devastating and presents a patient safety concern because it could result in infection. This article addresses the proper action to take in the event of a positive BI result and biological…
Cardiology services: The next wave in ASCs?
Many experts see cardiovascular (CV) care as the next wave in ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs), and a hybrid office-based lab (OBL)/ASC model is gaining momentum across the country. Robert J. Zasa, MSHHA, FACMPE, president and CEO of Ambulatory Systems Development, LLC, in Incline Village, Nevada, sees the hybrid arrangement as…
Study: Negative pressure wound therapy lowers SSI risk
Editor's Note In this study, the use of negative pressure wound therapy resulted in a significantly lower risk of surgical site infections (SSIs) than standard surgical incision closure. A total of 123 patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy were randomized to receive either negative pressure wound therapy or a standard closure of the…
FDA: Class I recall of Ethicon circular staplers
Editor's Note The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on May 16 identified the recall by Ethicon of its Endo-Surgery and Endo-Surgery Endoscopic Curved Intraluminal Staplers with adjustable height staples as Class I, the most serious. The recall was initiated because Ethicon confirmed that uncut washers in the staplers and malformed…
Performance on patient safety measures linked to hospital financial performance
Editor's Note Hospitals that perform better on measures to prevent postoperative complications also have better performance on measures of profitability, this study finds. Improved patient safety performance was associated with higher net patient revenue for five of seven Surgical Care Improvement Project (SCIP) measures, including starting and stopping preventive antibiotics…
Leapfrog Group: More than 160,000 preventable deaths occur in hospitals each year
Editor's Note A study published May 15 by the Leapfrog Group finds that more than 160,000 preventable deaths occur in US hospitals annually, a decline of about 56,000 from 3 years ago. The Leapfrog Group uses hospital performance on 16 patient safety measures to assign hospital grades. Of the 2,620…
Correlation of intraop staff movements, door openings with SSI risk
Editor's Note This multicenter study demonstrated an association between intraoperative staff movements and door openings with risk of surgical site infections (SSIs). In this study of 13 ORs in 10 hospitals, performing cardiac and total hip or knee replacement surgery, door openings were assessed by sensors fixed on the doors.…
Joint Commission offers accredited hospitals real-time quality metrics
Editor's Note The Joint Commission on May 14 announced that it is expanding its quality measure program to provide accredited hospitals with year-round, real-time access to quality measures without additional outside vendors. The Joint Commission can now use a single environment to specify, develop, test, and distribute clinical quality language…
CDC: No significant change in 2018 uninsured rate
Editor's Note The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on May 9 released a National Health Interview Survey that found an estimated 9.4% of US residents (30.4 million people) lacked health insurance in 2018, which is not significantly different than in 2017, but it is 18.2 million fewer than…
Adherence to ERAS protocols associated with fewer postop complications
Editor's Note An increased in adherence to Enhanced Recovery after Surgery (ERAS) protocols was associated with a decrease in postoperative complications in this study. Of 2,084 patients analyzed, 566 had moderate to severe postoperative complications. The number of patients with moderate to severe complications was lower in the ERAS group…
Free Daily News
- Study: Bariatric surgery beats lifestyle changes for patients with cirrhosis, obesity
- CMS vision shifts as agency halts funding for state programs
- Low-cost blood test predicts cardiovascular event risk
- Hospital M&A activity drops to historic low amid economic and policy uncertainty
- GAO urges HHS to improve drug shortage response coordination
- Study: US maternal mortality rises 28% in 5 years, inequities persist
- Routine preop tests catch hidden risks in outpatient cosmetic surgery, Canadian study finds
- Study: Hospital same‑day knee replacements match ASC outcomes, even in higher‑risk patients
- FDA clears AI platform for real-time surgical measurements
- Study: MRI contrast agent causes harmful metal buildup in some patients