Uncategorized Editor's Note Joint Commission has posted its updated Survey Process Guides (SPGs) for hospitals and critical access hospitals on its website, according to the December 10 issue of Joint Commission Online. The SPGs, which are effective January 1, 2026, represent a major revision that replaces the Survey Activity Guide for…
Editor's Note This year has been busy for smoke evacuation legislation, with several states including North Carolina and Delaware signing mandatory surgical smoke evacuation into law. Work in Oklahoma, Wisconsin and Michigan recently shared about in an AORN legislative update provides a snapshot of what it can take to educate…
Editor's Note Technologies continue to advance for effective, efficient, and safe surgical smoke evacuation. And healthcare organizations are reaping the rewards, including improved employee health and productivity. A surgical smoke expert recently explored the current state of regulatory, legislative, and technology developments to reduce surgical smoke exposure in Today’s Medical…
Editor's Note While artificial intelligence (AI) tools can inspire innovation and efficiency, they also pose safety risks, especially in a healthcare setting. Therefore, balancing centralization versus decentralization for AI oversight requires the right approach, according to research findings in a December 10 article in Harvard Business Review. The investigators sought…
Editor's Note Several ASC leaders recently shared the financial threats they are most concerned about in 2026, including staffing costs and the changing payer landscape, in a December 5 news story in Becker's ASC Review. For example, staffing costs are a top concern for an ASC administrator at a surgery…
Editor's Note To overcome communication challenges in the OR such as excessive noise, congestion, and universal masking that impair verbal and nonverbal communication, one expert recommended real-time captioning technology be used, according to an advanced publication article published in the February 2026 issue of The American Journal of Surgery. In…
Editor's Note While artificial intelligence (AI) has moved rapidly into clinical application, decisions around setting rules and requirements for responsible AI use are evolving more slowly. This could pose challenges for hospitals where resources are already limited, especially for smaller hospitals. Without a unified system for evaluating AI products, hospitals…
Editor's Note Perioperative nurses play an essential role in patient safety and surgical efficiency. But how exactly? Findings from a qualitative study published in the December issue of AORN Journal breaks down how perioperative nurses navigate decisions in high-pressure environments. This study involved semi-structured interviews with 11 perioperative nurses working…
Editor's Note A recent report on patient harm events by number and type from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Inspector General (OIG) was explored in a December 2 article in HealthAffairs. The OIG reviewed medical records of 770 hospitalized Medicare patients who were discharged in…
Editor's Note Language access should be considered more than a patient experience issue because it’s also required for safety and accreditation, according to a December 2 story in Becker’s Hospital Review. One example is Joint Commission’s new National Performance Goals that take effect in January 2026, specifically NPGs 4 and…
