Tag: Patient Safety

Implications of COVID-19 clusters in Singapore for surveillance, response measures

Editor's Note As of February 15, there were 36 cases of COVID-19 in Singapore that were linked epidemiologically to three clusters. These three clusters were linked to a tour group from China, a company conference, and a church. Direct or prolonged close contact was reported among the individuals in the…

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By: Judy Mathias
March 18, 2020
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ASCA releases guidance on necessary surgeries for ASCs during COVID-19 pandemic

Editor's Note In consultation with clinical experts and in response to government guidance that hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) postpone elective surgical procedures during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ambulatory Surgery Center Association (ASCA) released a statement March 18 on how and when facilities should proceed with cases that should…

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By: Judy Mathias
March 18, 2020
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Persistence of coronaviruses on inanimate surfaces, inactivation with biocidal agents

Editor's Note A new novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), which causes the disease COVID-19, is the third highly pathogenic human coronavirus that has emerged in the last two decades. The other two are the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and Middle East Respirtory Syndrome (MERS) coronaviruses. This analysis of 22 studies finds…

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By: Judy Mathias
March 17, 2020
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Nearly 20 healthcare systems canceling, postponing surgeries

Editor's Note Because of the coronavirus outbreak and recommendations from the American College of Surgeons and US Surgeon General, healthcare systems across the US are cancelling or postponing elective surgical procedures, the March 16 Becker’s Hospital Review reports. These steps are being taken to prevent the spread of coronavirus and…

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By: Judy Mathias
March 17, 2020
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Case report: COVID-19 risk to healthcare workers

Editor's Note Of 41 healthcare workers who were exposed to aerosol-generating procedures for at least 10 minutes at a distance of 6.5 feet from a patient with severe pneumonia before he was diagnosed with COVID-19, none contracted the disease. The patient, a middle-aged man with diabetes and hyperlipidemia, was hospitalized…

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By: Judy Mathias
March 16, 2020
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ACS updates recommendations for elective surgical procedures during COVID-19 outbreak

Editor's Note The American College of Surgeons (ACS) on March 13 updated its recommendations for the management of elective surgical procedures during the COVID-19 outbreak. Among the recommendations: Each hospital, healthcare system, and surgeon should: review all scheduled elective procedures with a plan to minimize, postpone, or cancel elective operations,…

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By: Judy Mathias
March 16, 2020
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Is professionalism a priority in your OR?

Professionalism may not be a concept OR leaders consciously think about, but they should. As role models for their staffs, they set the behavior standards for the OR, and failure to insist on professionalism can be damaging. Professionalism is not defined simply by dress or presentation, says David A. Wyatt,…

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By: Judith M. Mathias, MA, RN
March 16, 2020
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OR business leaders anticipate growth and opportunities in 2020

Planning for volume growth and adopting best business practices for the perioperative environment were overarching themes at the 2020 OR Business Management Conference (ORBMC) in late January. Leading healthcare industry clinicians and experts offered fresh insights into competing in the burgeoning outpatient surgery market and persuading stakeholders to switch to…

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By: Elizabeth Wood
March 16, 2020
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Don't fall victim to data breaches in your OR

Data breaches in the healthcare setting are on the rise, according to recent federal statistics. In November 2019, the US Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Office of Civil Rights reported that 29 data breaches affecting 570,565 patients took place, a notable rise from the more than 311,000 people…

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By: Jennifer Lubell
March 16, 2020
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Overcoming common obstacles to implementing a perioperative surgical home

Over the last 5 years, the perioperative surgical home (PSH) model has attracted increasing interest from OR directors, anesthesiologists, and surgeons. This team-based, patient-centered approach coordinates all phases of surgical care, from preoperative assessment through intraoperative care and postdischarge recovery. According to the American Society of Anesthesiologists, PSH initiatives have…

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By: OR Manager
March 16, 2020
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