Performance Improvement Editor's Note While technology remains a driving force in healthcare’s current evolution, leaders must prioritize blending human-centered capabilities with digital fluency and a mindset of reinventing themselves, according to a November article in Healthcare Executive. In the article, American College of Healthcare Executives President and CEO Deborah Bowen, FACHE, CAE,…
Editor's Note The leadership mindset required in a rural surgical setting can provide skills to grow efficiency and case volume in all settings, according to insights from a chief nursing officer working at a regional heath hospital in the small city. He shared his insights in a November 12 blog…
Editor's Note In-person approaches to assess and manage patients who have been recently diagnosed with bone fractures face challenges with meeting patient demand. This can delay accurate and timely clinical decisions for further care. Research suggests that virtual fracture clinics can be an effective alternative to in-person fracture clinics. The…
Editor's Note Updates to evidence-based guidance in the AORN 2026 Guideline for the Care and Cleaning of Surgical Instruments were summarized in a November 7 AORN news story to outline key updates such as new PPE recommendations for perioperative staff working in the decontamination area. For example, new recommendations in…
Editor's Note Doctors from Scotland and the US recently completed what is thought to be a world-first stroke procedure using a remote surgical robot on a human cadaver. A professor testing the remote robotic technology at a hospital in Dundee, Scotland and a neurosurgeon in Florida conducted the thrombectomy on…
Editor's Note Joint Commission released 14 briefs designed to help accredited hospitals and critical access hospitals translate the accreditation organization’s National Performance Goals (NPGs), into actionable practices, according to a November 12 Joint Commission news story. Joint Commission’s NPG chapter for accredited hospitals and critical access hospitals will become effective…
Editor's Note Being able to identify a patient’s risk for a coronary event before surgery helps teams plan for potential complications like heart attack, heart failure, or arrhythmias, and ideally improve postoperative outcomes. New research published November 9 in JAMA demonstrated that coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) improved risk prediction…
Editor's Note Temperature, lighting, and noise can negatively influence surgical performance, according to new research published November 11 in Surgical Endoscopy. A systematic review of 34 studies examining the impact of lighting, temperature, noise, and music on the performance of surgical teams sought to understand how these environmental factors can…
Editor's Note Obesity is a key driver of earlier total hip arthroplasty (THA) and elevated perioperative risk, according to findings published October 29 in Surgeries. While THA is a well-known intervention for older adults with end-stage hip osteoarthritis, the researchers reported a link between an increase in obesity and the…
Editor's Note The incidence of surgical patients being discharged against medical advice is increasing, leading to a subsequent rise in postoperative complications and readmissions, according to new published research. The investigators evaluated trends, risk factors, and postoperative outcomes among surgical patients who were discharged against medical advice and their findings…
