Editor's Note This study by researchers at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center’s ambulatory surgery center, New York City, finds that remote measurement of patient-reported symptoms after surgery can improve outcomes and reduce postoperative urgent care and emergency department (ED) visits. The researchers developed an electronic platform and alert system, called…

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Editor's Note This study by researchers in the United Kingdom finds that despite declines in hesitancy to be vaccinated against COVID-19, vaccine hesitancy remains high in young adults and Black and low socioeconomic status individuals. A total of 7,420 participants provided 42,154 survey responses to the Understanding America Study (UAS)…

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Editor's Note Duloxetine was found to be better than placebo for reducing opioid use and was of equal efficacy to placebo for reducing pain after total knee arthroplasty (TKA), in this study presented at the American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine annual meeting, May 13, in Orlando, Florida.…

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Editor's Note The Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) issued guidance on May 14 saying that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) mask recommendations for those fully vaccinated against COVID-19 do not apply in healthcare settings. Healthcare facilities should continue to follow COVID-19 infection prevention…

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Editor's Note This survey study of US adults found that many were averse to their information being used on digital platforms to mitigate COVID-19 transmission. Of 6,284 adults surveyed, 3,547 responded, for a completion rate of 56%. Approval was generally low (28% to 43%) for use of consumer digital data…

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Does compassionate care really matter? Clinical evidence points to a resounding Yes. “When healthcare providers take the time to make human connections that help end suffering, patient outcomes improve, and medical costs decrease. Among other benefits, compassion reduces pain, improves healing, lowers blood pressure, and helps alleviate depression and anxiety,”…

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A global pandemic did not stop the proliferation of joint ventures between ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) and hospitals in 2020. The trend continues in 2021, as federal regulators expand on the types of procedures that can be performed in the ambulatory setting. Hospitals are recognizing the need for a surgery…

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Editor's Note This study by researchers at Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, finds that disparities in access to orthopedic care persisted as orthopedic surgical patients were shifted to telemedicine during COVID-19. The researchers analyzed nearly 2,000 orthopedic patients receiving care via telemedicine from March to May…

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Editor’s Note. This article presents value-based analyses on the use of Mako robotic technology in total knee, partial knee, and total hip arthroplasty. The authors are with Stryker Orthopaedics in Mahwah, New Jersey.   Joint arthroplasty is an effective procedure to treat advanced osteoarthritis of the hips and knees. It…

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Editor's Note In this study, researchers from Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, find that ambulatory surgery offers significant cost savings and generally superior 30-day outcomes compared to inpatient surgery. Of 73,724 patients having hernia repair, primary total or partial thyroidectomy, laparoscopic cholecystectomy, or laparoscopic appendectomy in…

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