Same-Day Surgery – September 1, 2015
September 1, 2015
View Archives Issues
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Shootings, other violence on the rise and pose major liability risks
Escaped murderer David Sweat recently was shot and captured after a three-week manhunt in New York. He was taken to Alice Hyde Medical Center in Malone, NY, according to CNN. He later was moved to Albany Medical Center, where vascular surgery specialists and others were involved in his care, CNN said. -
Bank robber lockdown holds lessons
Outpatient surgery managers can study the recent lockdown at Inova Fairfax Hospital in Falls Church, VA, involving an escaped bank robber for lessons that might improve their own emergency planning.
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Participants in ASC pilot study share safety changes
Are you looking for ideas to improve your facility’s patient safety culture? Would you like to compare your safety culture to that of other ambulatory surgery centers?
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Proposed Medicare payment rates released
<>In the 2016 proposed payment rule for ambulatory surgery centers and hospital outpatient departments, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is proposing a 1.1% effective rate update for ASCs. -
11 new procedures proposed for ASCs in 2016
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has proposed to add 11 new procedures to the ASC list of payable procedures:
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Comments solicited on office-based cataract surgery
In its proposed 2016 Medicare fee schedule regulation, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is soliciting information regarding the advisability of paying for cataract surgery in the office-based surgical suite, according to the Outpatient Ophthalmic Surgery Society.
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How to address management company complaints
Having an outside professional manage your staff and services is a neato, hip, and cool solution! Yay! Problem solved! … Or is it just beginning?
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Warning! Smartphone recordings could be a liability risk for your facility
Smartphones are everywhere, and it has become increasingly common for patients to record their encounters with clinicians, usually so they can review the medication instructions or other information that they might not remember clearly.
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Anesthesiologist ordered to pay $500,000 after patient’s smartphone records insults
A Virginia jury ordered an anesthesiologist and her practice to pay a patient $500,000 for disparaging remarks made during surgery and a false diagnosis on his chart. The man might never have known about the offenses if he had not accidentally recorded the encounter on his smartphone.
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Program aims to improve geriatric surgical care
The American College of Surgeons, with the John A. Hartford Foundation in New York City, will conduct a four-year initiative that it says will lead to improved care of older surgical patients through a standards and verification program for hospitals.
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Outpatient surgery managers are in a tough place regarding how to handle multiple-dose vials
When it comes to the sensitive issue of using one vial on one patient, do you feel as if you’re in a no-win position? If so, you’re not alone.
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What do you do about multi-dose vials when you have a drug shortage?
Drug shortages are increasing, so outpatient surgery programs must develop strategies for dealing with them, advises Jan Allison, RN, CHSP, of Washington, OK, director of accreditation and survey readiness for Surgical Care Affiliates.
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Follow these standards, director recommends for outpatient surgery programs
What should outpatient surgery managers do when it comes to multi-dose vials? Adhere to national recognized guidelines, recommends Jan Allison, RN, CHSP, of Washington, OK, director of accreditation and survey readiness for Surgical Care Affiliates.
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CMS addresses false fingernails and immediate-use sterilization
In a letter from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to state survey agency directors, the agency spells out changes to the Ambulatory Surgical Center Infection Control Surveyor Worksheet and its Manual Instructions for areas including artificial fingernails and immediate use steam sterilization.
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Portal addresses environmental challenges
The Joint Commission and the American Society for Healthcare Engineering have launched a Physical Environment Portal to provide free online resources and tools for healthcare facilities to be compliant with the eight most challenging Life Safety and Environment of Care standards.