Periop Pulse The American Heart Association has issued a scientific statement in its journal Circulation on the topic of perioperative anemia and patient blood management in cardiac surgery. Calling perioperative anemia and red blood cell transfusions important risk factors for morbidity and mortality in cardiac surgery, it notes that up to 50%…
The Periop Leader Network Awards honor perioperative leaders who are making strides to better the experience of surgical patients, improve OR operations, drive healthcare innovation, and inspire the next generation of perioperative leaders. You can submit nominees for any or all of our three categories: Periop Leader of the Year,…
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced that a nationwide shortage of stereotactic breast biopsy needles due to a manufacturing disruption is expected to last through March 2027. In the meantime, it states that the supply disruption “is expected to impact patient care and may require adjustments to the…
According to reports from WSFA-TV and other media outlets, a federal bankruptcy judge has denied a request by Jackson Hospital of Montgomery, Ala., for a preliminary injunction against Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama (BCBSAL) in a decision that could have ramifications for other struggling rural and community hospitals.…
In the wake of updated colorectal cancer screening (CRC) guidelines released by the American Cancer Society (ACS) late last month that address blood-based and at-home testing for the first time, the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) has issued a statement that highlights “key considerations as CRC screening options continue to expand.”…
According to a report from The Philadelphia Inquirer, the Philadelphia region’s largest health insurer, Independence Blue Cross (IBX), launched a policy this month that is “designed to move care into lower-cost surgery centers and away from hospitals and clinics that can generate payments twice as high for the same treatment.”…
Baptist Health held a ribbon-cutting ceremony Monday to welcome South Arkansas Regional Hospital in El Dorado, Ark., into its system after officially assuming the hospital’s operations the day before. The 151-bed hospital has been renamed Baptist Health Medical Center-El Dorado, becoming the 13th hospital in the Baptist Health system. “The…
CMS is “taking steps to improve healthcare quality and patient safety through enhanced oversight of Accrediting Organizations (AO).” Announcing its final rule, “Strengthening Oversight of AO and Preventing AO Conflicts of Interest,” CMS stated that it wants to ensure AOs “use Medicare standards.” It added that the final rule also…
Artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare can be incredibly powerful…until it isn’t. KFF Health News has published a reminder that while AI can unlock significant clinical, financial and operational efficiencies and even breakthroughs, the technology is still in its relative infancy in terms of implementation in live environments. As such, human…
A Cleveland Clinic pediatric hospitalist sees much room for improvement in the perioperative management of pediatric patients with medical complexities characterized by rare multisystem disease. Moises Auron, MD, says that while such patients are frequently candidates for life-sustaining surgeries—often multiple surgeries—their risk for increased morbidity and mortality remains high. Cleveland…
