Hospitals continue to grapple with IV fluid shortage
Editor's Note US hospitals continue to face a shortage of intravenous (IV) fluids due to Hurricane-related damage to the Baxter manufacturing facility that was responsible for 60% of the nation’s supply, MedPage Today reported December 31. Citing a report from Baxter, the article notes that the manufacturer has restored eight…
Visual management supports perioperative Lean efforts
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…
Why active implants demand proactive management
What happens when a surgeon uses the monopolar instrument set on 30-W coagulation mode to create an upper midline incision in a patient with a pacemaker? Pacemaker function is interrupted, causing a heart block that results in hemodynamic instability—or at least, this is what could happen without taking the necessary…
Orthopedic research showcases stem cells’ surgical promise
Stem cell therapy is poised to revolutionize regenerative medicine. As these therapies advance, they may alter or even replace certain invasive surgical procedures. Already undergoing advanced clinical trials, orthopedic applications are likely candidates for attracting the earliest adopters. Results so far indicate significant potential for providing alternatives to implants, grafts,…
Implications of 2024 surgical care trends for the year ahead
Perioperative leaders are entering a time of uncertainty after 2024 proved to be transformative for inpatient and outpatient surgical care. Last year saw important updates from The Joint Commission and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) that emphasized improvements alongside ongoing challenges in safety, workforce shortages, reimbursement, and…
Cloud-based technology addresses resource constraints
Data is collected everywhere, from what we click online to whether we run a red light to how many steps we take each day. There is power in data. When leveraged effectively, data reveal patterns, insights, behaviors, and other potentially actionable intelligence. It stands to reason that data would be…
FDA designates Class 1 recalls for balloon catheters, radiographic markers
Editor's Note Balloon catheters for atrial fibrillation patients and implantable radiographic markers were the subjects of separate US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Class 1 recalls—the most severe category indicating risk of serious injury or death—announced on December 18. The first recall involves Boston Scientific’s POLARx Cryoablation devices. Higher-than-anticipated reports…
Antitrust guideline withdrawal could dampen M&A, boost uncertainty for provider joint ventures
Editor's Note In a move that could hinder provider-led joint ventures and increase regulatory uncertainty, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Justice Department have withdrawn antitrust guidance issued in 2000. Modern Healthcare reported the news on December 16. Passed in a 3-2 vote, the decision eliminates previously relied-upon safe…
Q&A: Perioperative immunotherapy advances for early-stage NSCLC
Editor's Note Perioperative immunotherapy is reshaping treatment strategies for early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) without actionable mutations, according to Dr. Roy S. Herbst of Yale Cancer Center. In a recent interview with OncLive, the oncology expert highlighted the promise of neoadjuvant and adjuvant therapies to improve outcomes for these…
Proposals close December 16: Present at the 2025 OR Manager Conference
Editor's Note The 2025 OR Manager Conference Program Committee is seeking presentation proposals from passionate perioperative leaders and experts to share their experience October 28-30, 2025, in Anaheim, California. The OR Manager Conference is the only conference providing education specific to the needs of perioperative leaders in all facility types…
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- Study: ERAS protocol reduces opioid use after cardiac surgery
- Study: Prehabilitation reduces surgical complications, speeds recovery
- Commentary: Studies show how surgeon decisions follow the money
- Proposed HIPAA updates would improve cybersecurity, increase costs for healthcare providers
- Study: EMR data can enhance hand hygiene compliance, infection prevention
- Study: Machine learning model improves perioperative pain assessment
- Call for improved suicide risk screening in ASCs aims to strengthen safety protocols
- Study: Perioperative pregabalin reduces risk of kidney decline compared to gabapentin
- Medical school diversity declines after Supreme Court ruling
- Surgeons risk losing ground as transcatheter tricuspid valve interventions rise