Same-Day Surgery – December 1, 2003
December 1, 2003
View Issues
-
$19 million judgment highlights need to monitor for post-op complications
An Illinois woman recently was awarded $19 million after her bladder was punctured during surgery to remove an ovarian cyst and went undiagnosed for nearly two days, according to a news report. -
Place anesthetic in wound during recovery to cut pain
Post-surgical pain control has come a long way since the days when patients were sent home with oral narcotics and no other way to control pain. -
Outpatient mastectomies are under fire again
In the last several years, seven bills have been introduced in Congress to ban outpatient mastectomies but have not passed. -
Flying first class isn’t always an option
During a routine process and operational audit of a hospital facility last month, we discovered an interesting situation. The supply cost and personnel cost for most ambulatory surgery cases exceeded the reimbursement by 30%. -
HIPAA Q & A
Question: How should a same-day surgery program proceed if a patient agrees with only portions of the privacy notice? -
Hospital OPPS receives 4.5% rate increase
Medicare has published a rule for hospital outpatient prospective payment system (OPPS) services that will increase rates in the aggregate by 4.5%, according to an initial analysis by the American Hospital Association. The rule was published in the Nov. 7 Federal Register and takes effect Jan. 1. -
Findings debated from specialty hospital report
The findings of a new report on specialty hospitals are being debated by outpatient surgery experts who are drawing lines in the sand over whether the hospitals are a good idea. -
Be cautious with SARS, some patients need mask
Even if there are no cases in the world of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), you still should encourage patients with respiratory symptoms to wear a surgical mask, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions draft Public Health Guidance for Community-Level Preparedness and Response to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). -
SARS audio program updates guidelines
Leading epidemiologists say a global return of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) which wreaked havoc on the health care systems that had to deal with it is almost inevitable. -
Adverse events associated with stent
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has received more than 290 reports of thrombosis associated with a drug-coated stent approved in April for angioplasty.