Surgery/Specialties Even the most experienced OR leaders often view physician preference cards (PPCs) as a beast that acts out and demands attention at the most inconvenient times. Two organizations that have managed to tame the PPC beast shared their experiences with OR Manager. Updating cards saves more than $3.2 million Tresa…
Editor's Note Gastric bypass surgery was associated with improved long-term survival for patients aged 35 years and older in this study. In the analysis of nearly 16,000 patients—8,000 who had gastric bypass surgery and 8,000 who did not have surgery—researchers found mortality benefits varied by age. Those who were: younger…
Editor's Note Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, is the first and only center in the US to be approved by the United Network for Organ Sharing to perform HIV-positive to HIV-positive organ transplants. The hospital will be the first in the nation to do an HIV-positive to HIV-positive kidney transplant and…
Editor's Note Depending on which hospital a patient goes to for a low-risk surgical procedure, he or she may be 2.4 times more or less likely to be sent for preoperative blood work, this study finds. Researchers found that overall, unnecessary preoperative lab tests (eg, complete blood count, blood clotting…
Editor's Note About 7 million Americans are living with a total hip or knee replacement, including 620,000 who have had both, this study finds. In 2010, the prevalence of total hip and total knee replacement was 0.83% and 1.52%, respectively. Prevalence was higher in women and increased with age, reaching…
Editor's Note A Studer Group survey finds that nearly 90% of physicians have experienced burnout, and almost two-thirds say they are thinking about leaving the profession, the February 2 EHR Intelligence reports. Among the major causes of burnout cited were overcompensating for low staffing levels and the regulatory burdens of…
Editor's Note The flexibility for surgical residents to work longer shifts than currently allowed or take less time off between shifts to provide continuity of care was not associated with a greater risk of postoperative patient complications or death, a new study finds. There was also no significant difference in…
Editor's Note Hospitals with better nursing work environments and above-average staffing levels were associated with better surgical value (ie, lower mortality with similar costs), especially for higher-risk patients, researchers from the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, found. The study compared outcomes and patient costs at 35 focal hospitals recognized nationally as…
Editor's Note Analyzing data from the National Cancer Data Base, researchers found that rectal cancer patients who had surgery at precisely 8 weeks (56 days) after the end of combined chemoradiotherapy had the best overall survival and successful removal of their residual tumors. This 6-year study of nearly 12,000 patients…
Editor's Note The Oregon Outpatient Surgery Center (Tigard, Oregon) is the first ambulatory surgery center in the Northwest to perform same-day total hip replacements, the January 4 Oregonian reports. The center offers both posterior and anterior total hips for qualified patients. Patients are carefully screened and must be in good…
