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Four reports issued by the AAAHC Institute for Quality Improvement, a subsidiary of the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC), offer insights into some of the most common outpatient procedures, including cataract surgery, colonoscopy, low back injection, and knee arthroscopy. Highlights of the studies include:
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By every standard, outpatient surgery is growing. The recession took a bite out of it, with many patients delaying elective surgery until they obtained new positions and health insurance. However, by and large, most facilities are seeing resurgence in cases again in the hospital outpatient departments (HOPDs) and freestanding centers.
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The author informs us that the winner of the 2010 Tour de France was Alberto Contador, riding a Specialized SL3 racing bike. The U.S. rider Chris Horner finished 12 minutes behind riding a Trek, Madone.
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During morning surgery rush times, registrars at Indiana University Health North Hospital in Carmel began monitoring the actual time patients were arriving in a database.
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According to a study that appears in Archives of Surgery, between 85% and 94% of patients were willing to sign forms permitting medical residents to assist surgeons, but many will not consent to giving residents a major role during surgery.
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More states are mandating adverse event reporting, and this trend could have a significant impact on healthcare providers, says Kathryn Schulke, BSN, a principal with the law firm of Booz Allen Hamilton in Rockville, MD. Twenty-seven states and the District of Columbia have passed legislation requiring adverse event reporting, she says.
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As the num ber of people in the general population with high body mass index (BMI) rises, outpatient surgery providers are seeing growing numbers of these patients. The question arises, are providers treating them appropriately? No, according to the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance (NAAFA).
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[Editor's note: In this issue of Same-Day Surgery, we put a special focus on compliance with regulated drugs. We've talked with some of the top pharmacy consultants in the country to find out foolproof systems for avoiding diversion and theft. These stories will help you decide where to focus your time and energy, while avoiding liability.]
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More often, outpatient surgery staff members find themselves in the unenviable position of telling patients about out-of-pocket responsibilities running into the thousands of dollars.
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About one-quarter of healthcare respondents reported that their organization has experienced a security breach in the past year, according to survey results from the Healthcare Information Management and Systems Society (HIMSS) in Chicago.
