Editor's Note A new ASTM International standard will help manufacturers validate a standardized, safe, and effective level for cleaning of medical devices. The standard--soon to be published as F3127, Guide for Validating Cleaning Lines for Medical Devices--is the result of a November 2011 symposium sponsored by ASTM International (formerly known…
Editor's Note The ECRI Institute (Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania) on April 13 released its “Top 10 Patient Safety Concerns for Healthcare Organizations” for 2016. Topping the list was “Health IT configurations and organizational workflow that do not support each other,” followed by “Patient identification errors.” “Inadequate cleaning and disinfection of flexible…
Editor's Note Hospitals that rank higher in the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid (CMS) Hospital Compare star ratings system have lower readmission and mortality rates, compared with those ranked lower in the system, this study finds. Hospitals with five stars had an 18.7% readmission rate, compared with 22.9% for one-star…
Editor's Note A new analysis by Avalere Health (Washington, DC) finds that 60% of hospitals participating in Medicare’s Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement bundled-payment model could face penalties if they don’t reduce their costs. The average total joint costs around $13,000, but the entire episode-of-care costs twice that at $26,000.…
Editor's Note The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on April 11 announced the recall by Vascular Solutions, Inc (Minneapolis, Minnesota), of specific lots of Guardian II hemostasis valves used in catheterization procedures. The recall was initiated because of an increased risk of air leakage that may lead to an air…
Editor's Note Most Americans do not think healthcare prices and quality are associated and may avoid low-price care, finds this study. Depending on how the question was framed, 58% to 71% of Americans in a nationally representative survey did not associate healthcare prices and quality. A minority did perceive an…
Editor's Note A readmission reduction program for high-risk Medicare patients lowered 30-day readmission rates, but the effect was small and did not achieve the goal set by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), this study finds. Of 10,621 patients studied, readmission rates decreased from 21.5% to 19.5% in…
Editor's Note The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on April 11 announced the recall by Boston Scientific (Marlborough, Massachusetts) of all models of its Fetch 2 Aspiration Catheter, a thrombectomy catheter used to remove small blood clots from coronary arteries. The recall was initiated because of complaints of shaft breakage…
Editor's Note Cassendra A. Munro, MSN, RN, CNOR, announced April 3 at the AORN Surgical Conference & Expo in Anaheim, California, the addition of the Munro Pressure Ulcer Risk Assessment Scale for Perioperative Patients (Adults) to AORN’s Prevention of Perioperative Pressure Ulcers Tool Kit. The Munro Scale is the only…
Editor's Note AORN announced April 5 at the Surgical Conference & Expo in Anaheim, California, the creation of the Go Clear Award program, which will recognize health care facilities committed to a surgical smoke-free environment. The program, sponsored by Medtronic, is a 3-year national health education effort to raise awareness…
