Editor's Note In this study, hospitals reduced costs associated with percutaneous coronary interventions (PCIs) when cardiologists performed the procedures through the radial artery and discharged patients on the same day. The analysis of 280,000 Medicare patients found that an average cost of $13,389 for the radial artery approach with same-day…

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There is a lot of buzz in the healthcare community about a newcomer to the accreditation process. For many years, the Joint Commission was the first choice for providing accreditation for hospitals in the US. But Norway-based Det Norske Veritas (DNV) is gaining ground, representing more than 350 hospitals and…

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Cancellation of surgical cases, especially prescheduled elective surgeries, is a pervasive problem that reduces OR utilization and hospital revenue. The estimated direct and indirect annual cost of such cancellations across the US is approximately $39 billion per year, with an average OR cost between $20 and $65 per minute. Facilities…

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Editor's Note Even mild postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs) are associated with increased early postoperative mortality, ICU admission, and length of stay, finds this study. Of 1,202 ASA physical status 3 patients from seven academic medical centers included in the analysis, at least one PPC occurred in 401 patients. All patients…

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Editor's Note In this study of patients undergoing total hip or knee replacement, smoking was associated with an increased risk of infectious complications that required further surgery. In addition, the amount that a patient had smoked, regardless of current smoking status, significantly contributed to increased risk of readmission. A total…

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Editor's Note Anastomotic leaks and postoperative ileus had significantly higher associations with 30-day patient outcomes after colon resection than surgical site infections (SSIs), urinary tract infections, and venous thromboembolism, this study finds. In 26,682 patients undergoing colon resection, the most common postoperative complications were ileus (11.8%), bleeding (7.6%), and incisional…

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Editor's Note The American College of Surgeons (ACS) in collaboration with Johns Hopkins has launched a new multimillion dollar surgical quality improvement initiative funded and guided by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. The new program will enable hospitals to implement Enhanced Recovery after Surgery (ERAS) protocols, which have…

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Editor's Note The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and care providers lack the predictive models needed to assess risks for readmission after joint replacements, finds this study. Researchers tested the applicability of the Carlson Comorbidity Index, Elixhauser Comorbidity Index, and CMS Hierarchical Condition Category to see whether any…

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Editor's Note Nerve blocks in total knee patients were associated with statistically significant reductions in length of stay and readmissions, but no difference in emergency department visits or in-hospital falls, this Canadian study finds. In the analysis of 178,214 patients, adjusted: mean hospital stay was 4.7 days for patients with…

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Editor's Note Children having tonsillectomies to improve the number of sore throats and throat infections, associated clinic visits, and days of school missed had improved outcomes in the first year after surgery compared with children not having surgery, but these benefits did not persist over time, this study finds. For…

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