Editor's Note Disrupting traditional education is imperative to improve quality, retention, and safety in OR and SPD environments, said Hank Balch, Founder and President of First Case Media, in a Wednesday morning session at the 2024 OR Manager Conference. Balch described his overall vision for education as ensuring that “the…

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Editor's Note Between 2025 and 2029, US college enrollment is expected to drop by 15%, reflecting a decline in the perceived value of college and a rise in trade careers. Alongside other educational challenges and what Stephanie Woods, PhD, RN, referred to as the “demographic cliff”—rising death rates, slowing birth…

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Editor's Note A standing-room-only panel discussion outlined the strengths and challenges of multigenerational workforces Monday afternoon at the 2024 OR Manager Conference, offering insights into different generations' needs and values as well as strategies for fostering harmony.  The panel, all from Main Line Health’s Lankenau Hospital, contained a representative from…

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Editor's Note Base salaries for healthcare executives rose by a median of 4.6%, according to the 2024 Health Care Management and Executive Compensation Survey from consulting firm SullivanCotter. Published October 17 on Business Wire, the survey includes data from nearly 3,300 organizations and 45,000 leaders. According to an October 17…

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Editor's Note A recent study challenges the claim that 50% of orthopedic surgeons leave their first job within two years, finding that only 5.7% of surgeons actually switch practices during that period, according to an October 10 report in Healio. The study, published by orthopedic researchers, analyzed data from 3,784…

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Many are quick to blame travelers for the poor state of hospital finances. However, isn’t there a difference between a traveler in the OR—an interim staff member in the hospital’s profit center—and an interim RN in an area financially supported by OR profits? What about the argument that travelers can…

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For many healthcare facilities, operational costs are steadily rising, and no clearcut solution is in sight. However, some hospital systems are gradually reclaiming control over their budgets by finding ways to stabilize their finances and improve workforce morale. During the pandemic, many hospitals turned to short-term contract labor as a…

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Takeaways Providers are generally seeking to reduce use of travelers through strategies such as float pools, training programs, and cultural reforms. However, travelers remain useful as a bridge to permanent staff and for difficult-to-fill positions. Best practices for selection, onboarding, team integration, and performance evaluation are essential for maximizing return…

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Editor's Note Simple, non-judgmental interactions with therapy dogs could offer a valuable tool in combatting the widespread burnout seen across the healthcare industry. That’s according to a September 16 EurekAlert! news release detailing a study highlighting the emotional support benefits of therapy dogs for not only patients, but also the healthcare…

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Editor's Note The U.S. healthcare sector is projected to experience a shortage of 100,000 workers by 2028, according to an August 29 report by Mercer. This shortfall is expected to affect key roles such as nursing assistants, nurse practitioners, and specialized primary care physicians. Nursing assistants are projected to have…

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