Editor's Note The shuttering of a critical Baxter International manufacturing plant in North Carolina due to Hurricane Helene could put significant stress on already strained healthcare supply chain, according to an October 1 report in Axios. According to the article, the facility is a critical production center for produces intravenous…

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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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Human trafficking (HT) is a hidden-in-plain-sight crime—victims walk among the public at large, yet they remain essentially invisible. Lack of education and knowledge on HT and anti-trafficking measures is particularly egregious in healthcare. In fact, the literature shows the majority of people being trafficked access the system without being identified…

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Editor's Note Confusion about the scope of practice for Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) prompted The California Department of Public Health to update guidelines for acute care hospitals, MedPage Today reported September 18. Issued after violations at two Modesto hospitals resulted in hundreds of cancelled surgeries, a letter from the…

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Editor's Note The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has designated Fresenius Kabi’s recall of certain Ivenix infusion system components as Class 1, the most severe category indicating risk of serious injury or death. According to the agency’s September 16 announcement, the recalled items consist of a certain lot (3010538)…

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Editor's Note Joint Commission International (JCI) and the International Hospital Federation's Geneva Sustainability Centre (GSC) have introduced a new Healthcare Sustainability Certification (HSC) for healthcare organizations outside the U.S., according to a September 11 report from The Joint Commission. The goal of the new initiative is to address the nearly…

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Editor's Note Tubal ligation procedures increased after the 2022 overturn of Roe v. Wade and were particularly concentrated in states with abortion bans, according to a September 11 Associated Press (AP) report on a study published in JAMA. Researchers analyzed insurance claims for approximately 4.8 million women across 36 states…

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Editor's Note Lost organs, widespread fraud, and live donors mistakenly presumed deceased are among the alarming issues with the US organ transplant system detailed in a recent Congressional hearing, MedPage Today reported September 11. As part of the House Energy & Commerce Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee, the hearing aimed to…

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Editor's Note Recalls of certain devices and instruction updates for others prompted the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to issue Class 1 recalls—the most severe category indicating risk of serious injury or death—for two groups of products: Medtronic’s McGrath MAC and MAC EMS Video Laryngoscopes and Breas Medical’s Vivo…

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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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