Same-Day Surgery – August 1, 2014
August 1, 2014
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Before you add the latest OR gadget, Google Glass, explore cautions, limits
Google glass is being tested by surgeons across the country and is in high demand. The device can be worn during surgery and used to teach, archive, and access other documents. -
Surgery center increases payments by 47%
A surgery center increased its collections 47% from a four-month period in 2012 to the same period in 2013 by collecting copays and deductibles up front. Less than 1% of patients have cancelled. -
From `clueless’ to success in collections
When at Longmont (CO) Surgery Center started collecting copays and deductibles up front, they were clueless about the process, says Angie Blankinship, BSN, CASC, administrator. -
Hospitals: Beef up discharge planning
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is increasing its emphasis on discharge planning and has developed a worksheet for surveyors to use to determine if hospitals are in compliance with the Conditions of Participation (CoPs). -
Questions from trenches of outpatient surgery
Ive received a lot of emails with questions through the Same-Day Surgery newsletter each month. Thought I would share some with you. -
Answers to questions on quality reporting
Several questions have been raised regarding the Ambulatory Surgery Center Quality Reporting Program (ASCQR), including questions about reporting on use of the safe surgery checklist, says Gina Throneberry, RN, MBA, CASC, CNOR, director of education and clinical affairs for the Ambulatory Surgery Center Association (ASCA). -
Safety checklists reduce postop complications
Patients experience fewer postoperative complications when a surgical safety checklist is used by their surgical team, reports the first large-scale review on the subject published in the June issue of Anesthesiology. By following a simple checklist, healthcare providers can minimize the most common postoperative risks such as wound infection and blood loss. -
Stocking dantrolene saves lives and money
Storing dantrolene would save 33 lives per year at an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of nearly $200,000 (in 2010 dollars) per life saved, indicating that storing dantrolene at ambulatory surgical centers (ASCs) is very cost effective, say malignant hyperthermia experts. -
Anesthesiologists told: Question 5 procedures
Proving that less really is more, five specific tests or procedures commonly performed in anesthesiology that might not be necessary and, in some cases should be avoided, was published online June 16 in JAMA Internal Medicine. -
Wearing 2 sets of gloves cuts contamination
Results of a recent study indicate that when an anesthesiologist wears two sets of gloves during laryngoscopy and intubation and then removes the outer set immediately after intubation, the contamination of the intraoperative environment is dramatically reduced. -
Simple instructions boost meds compliance
A study in the July issue of Anesthesiology revealed that patients who receive a simple, multicolor, standardized medication instruction sheet before surgery are more likely to comply with their physicians instructions and experience a significantly shorter postop stay in recovery. -
TJC alert addresses unsafe injection practices
Patients visiting a clinic for an injection to relieve their pain dont expect to leave with a new condition such as hepatitis, but unfortunately thousands of patients have been adversely affected in this way when they received an injection.