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…
CDC: Hepatitis A infections up nearly 300%
Editor's Note In the May 10 Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that hepatitis A infections were up 294% in 2016-2018, compared with 2013-2015. The increases are related to outbreaks among homeless people, men who have sex with men, people who use drugs,…
Free Daily News
- Study: COVID-19's impact on oncological surgery offers lessons for future crises
- Study links pandemic stress to persistent increases in nursing-sensitive quality indicators
- Save the date for the 2025 OR Business Management Conference
- Study: Education, exercise improve knee OA with or without prior surgery
- Study: Early surgery outperforms endoscopy for long-term pancreatitis
- Study: Blood thinner, NSAID combination raises bleeding risk
- Hospital financial report predicts stability, high cybersecurity costs for 2025
- IV fluid shortage drives innovation in hospital hydration practices
- FDA Class 1 recalls target anesthesia workstations, ambulatory infusion pumps, ventilators
- Five leadership lessons from an ASC CEO