Editor's Note Black patients are less likely to receive surgery at hospitals with the lowest mortality rates despite living closer to these facilities, according to a new study examining Medicare patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) from 2017 to 2019. Authors suggest that physician referral patterns may play a…

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Takeaways • Visual management (VM) tools support Lean efforts, leading to improved quality and efficiency. • VM boards provide an overview of processes, facilitate problem solving, and promote staff-manager collaboration. • Other VM tools such as color coding and customized instrument trays can help reduce errors and save money. Lean…

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Editor's Note Non-operative management (NOM) with antibiotics for pediatric uncomplicated appendicitis is both less expensive and slightly more effective than urgent laparoscopic appendectomy over a one-year period, according to a study published November 19 in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons. The findings support the viability of NOM…

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Editor's Note A study analyzing data from the National Database of Nursing Quality Indicators (NDNQI) revealed that nursing-sensitive quality indicators (NSIs) worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic and remain elevated years after the onset of the pandemic, reflecting ongoing challenges in nursing practice. Published in the journal Nursing Research, the findings…

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Editor's Note During the past few years, US hospitals have improved significantly in reducing healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), adhering to hand hygiene best practices, and preventing medical errors, according to the fall 2024 Hospital Safety Grades from The Leapfrog Group, a nonprofit focused on patient safety. Released November 15, the rankings…

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Editor's Note The American College of Surgeons (ACS) has recognized 77 US hospitals for “exceptional surgical outcomes” in 2023 based on performance metrics tracked as part of the ACS National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP). According to an October 30 ACS announcement, these hospitals were selected from among 609 eligible…

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Editor's Note Newsweek on October 16, in collaboration with Statista, released its 2025 rankings for America's Best Ambulatory Surgery Centers (ASCs), recognizing 650 top-performing ASCs across the US. These rankings highlight excellence in outpatient surgical care, showcasing centers that provide efficient, high-quality procedures such as colonoscopies, cataract surgical procedures, knee…

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Editor's Note Starting October 1, US hospitals participating in Medicare's Inpatient Quality Reporting Program will need to report adherence to 25 patient safety best practices, as mandated by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). According to a September 4 report from the Association of Health Care Journalists, the…

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Editor's Note An American Hospital Association (AHA) analysis of data from Vizient reveals that hospital performance levels in the first quarter of this year was on par with performance prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, despite patients exhibiting more significant healthcare needs. Released this month, the report analyzes data from 2019…

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Editor's Note The OR Manager Conference is proud to announce it will offer a 1-day training course outlining core areas of study for the Certified Administrator Surgery Center (CASC) exam to earn the CASC credential. This training is ideal for those responsible for the operations of running an ambulatory surgery…

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