Same-Day Surgery – March 1, 2015
March 1, 2015
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Outpatient Programs Expand to Provide More than Just Surgery
Decades ago, the idea of having surgery and going home the same day was considered radical. Now, unusual new services can help build revenue.
Morphine following common surgery may be life-threatening, but ibuprofen is safe alternative
Treating postoperative pain with morphine can cause life-threatening respiratory problems in some children who have had their tonsils and/or adenoids removed, new research has found.
Botched cataract surgery yields $1.5M verdict
In this case, the patient was an adult man who suffered from a cataract on his left eye and scheduled surgery to fix the problem in 2008. During the procedure, the ophthalmologist ordered a dye named VisionBlue that is used to stain the cataract in the eye so that it can be more easily visualized and removed during the procedure. The nurse who received the order from the ophthalmologist, however, fulfilled the request as methylene blue rather than VisionBlue.
No viral load means no HCV restrictions
Everything seemed in order for the certified surgical first assistant to start a new job. He filled out the human resources paperwork and went through the routine screening in employee health. He was healthy and had been working as a contractor at the hospital for 15 years, so he didn’t expect any stumbling blocks.
Answers to some of your most pressing questions
Here are some enlightening questions from readers over the past couple of months...
EHR failures can be dangerous without having a contingency plan
Electronic health records (EHRs) can be a boon to clinical care, until the system goes down or the power goes off. Then the clinicians might be flummoxed by how to do things "the old-fashioned way" with paper and pen, or they might not have the resources necessary.
Simulated IV fluids were shipped to surgery centers
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are investigating multiple instances of Wallcur’s simulated intravenous (IV) saline products being administered to patients. These products are not sterile and should not be injected in humans or animals, the CDC says.
System settles false claim charges for $37 million
The healthcare system involved in a false claims investigation prompted by a former employee blowing the whistle has settled the case. Dignity Health hospital system, based in San Francisco, has agreed to pay $37 million to settle the charges.
Joint communication addresses challenge of humidity levels, medical equipment in the OR
With more organizations lowering the relative humidity levels in operating rooms (ORs), there are concerns about the impact on sterile supplies and electro-medical equipment. A multi-society communication, organized by the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI), aims to help leaders determine whether a lower humidity level is appropriate.
MedPAC finalizes 2016 payment recommendations
The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) approved a recommendation that ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) receive a 0% increase in payment rates for 2016. The commission once again approved a recommendation that ASCs be directed to report cost data.
AAAHC’s hospital/health system group accredits its first hospital
The Accreditation Association for Hospitals/Health Systems (AAHHS) in Skokie, IL, recently presented its inaugural accreditation certificate to Sioux Falls Specialty Hospital in South Dakota.