Editor's Note A Republican-led House subcommittee investigating the COVID-19 pandemic released a 520-page final report summarizing its two-year inquiry, outlining recommendations for future pandemic preparedness and critiquing both US and global responses to the crisis. CNN reported the news December 2. The report concludes that COVID-19 most likely emerged from…

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Editor's Note A nationwide shortage of intravenous (IV) fluids is forcing hospitals to adopt conservation strategies that could reshape hydration practices long-term, KFF Health News reported November 19. The shortage was driven by Hurricane Helene’s damage to Baxter International’s North Cove facility, which is responsible for 60% of US IV…

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Editor's Note This session on converting hospital outpatient departments (HOPDs) into ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs), presented at the recently concluded OR Manager Conference, saw Joan Dentler, MBA, founder of Avanza Healthcare Strategies, share practical insights for healthcare leaders contemplating this transition. Dentler began by highlighting the history of ASCs, which…

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Editor's Note The Biden administration has invoked wartime powers to speed rebuilding of intravenous fluid (IV) manufacturing capacity, CBS News reported October 15, four days after the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) took steps to combat drug shortages. Both efforts are in response to devastation wrought by Hurricane Helene,…

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Editor's Note Applying lessons learned from Hurricane Ian in 2022 helped Tampa General Hospital (TGH) successfully withstand Hurricane Helene in late September, according to an October 3 HealthLeaders interview with TGH CEO John Couris. Detailing how strategic preparations ensured the safety of its patients, staff, and critical infrastructure, including its…

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Editor's Note In the wake of Hurricane Helene and the recent Gulf Coast port strikes, hospitals are raising alarms and pursuing their own strategies for mitigating supply chain disruption even as a second hurricane—Milton—bears down on Florida. As of October 7, dozens of Florida healthcare facilities had suspended services and/or…

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Editor's Note Six US companies will manufacture approximately 250 million medical gowns as part of a government effort to shore up supplies that were subject to shortages during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Associated Press (AP) reported October 3. Led by the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR), the initiative…

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Editor's Note Patient safety nonprofit ECRI is offering resources to help healthcare providers mitigate potential shortages of critical medical supplies following the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene along the US southeast coast and the ongoing strike by the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA). According to an October 1 announcement, the first…

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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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Editor's Note A joint communication from AORN and the Association of Healthcare Value Analysis Professionals (AHVAP, a strategic partner of AORN) provides advice and resources for affiliated healthcare professionals who could be impacted by the recent strike by port workers across major US shipping ports. Issued September 30, the statement…

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