Editor's Note The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on October 29 opened the Health Sector Cybersecurity Coordination Center (HC3) at its headquarters in Washington DC. HC3 will play a vital role in early detection of cybersecurity attacks and coordination of information between the healthcare sector and the Department…
Editor's Note Colectomy patients participating in a preoperative prehabilitation program had positive physiologic effects and experienced fewer complications, this study finds. The prehabilitation program−Michigan Surgical and Health Optimization Program (MSHOP)−engages patients in four activities before surgery: Physical activity, pulmonary rehabilitation, nutritional optimization, and stress reduction. For the study, patients were…
Editor's Note The Food & Drug Administration (FDA) on October 24 classified Alcon Research’s recall of its CyPass Micro-Stent Systems as Class I, the most serious. The recall was initiated because of the risk of corneal endothelial cell loss with the system, which is used in conjunction with cataract surgery…
Editor's Note In this study, nurses with bachelor’s degrees were found to be significantly better prepared than nurses with associate degrees in 5 of 16 test topics between 2007 and 2008, and in 12 of 16 topics between 2014 and 2015. Researchers tested the quality and safety educational preparedness differences…
Editor's Note The Joint Commission announced on October 24 that the 2019 National Patient Safety Goals (NPSGs) are now available on its website. Included is a new element of performance (EP) for NPSG.01.01.01, EP3, which is designed to improve the naming convention of newborns after delivery to prevent medical errors…
Editor's Note Wound photography facilitates online postoperative wound assessment for surgical site infections (SSIs) but needs refinement to make sure critical issues aren’t missed, this study finds. A total of 523 surgeons reviewed online clinical vignettes with or without wound photography to diagnose SSIs. The addition of photography did not…
Editor's Note The Joint Commission on October 24 announced that beginning January 1, 2019, any hospital wanting to pursue the Advanced Certification in Heart Failure or Comprehensive Cardiac Center Certification will no longer have to be accredited by the Joint Commission. The Joint Commission says it is making this change…
Editor's Note Most complications of colorectal resection steadily decreased and early hospital discharges increased over 10 years of participation in the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS NSQIP), finds this study presented October 24 at the American College of Surgeons 2018 Clinical Congress in Boston. Of…
Editor's Note The Food & Drug Administration (FDA) on October 23 issued a Safety Communication on the increased risk of corneal haze associated with the Raindrop Near Vision Inlay, which is surgically implanted in the cornea of one eye to improve near vision. The notice is to alert eye care…
Editor's Note Mastectomy patients treated with a new long-acting pain medication were able to be discharged the same day of surgery with a reduced need for opioids in this study presented October 23 at the American College of Surgeons 2018 Clinical Congress in Boston. A total of 100 mastectomy patients…