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A surgery center decreased its same-day cancellation rate by 53%, increased patient satisfaction scores, and increased OR use by having nurses make calls to patients three days before surgery, according to a study in the July AORN Journal.
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Postoperative pain is a major limiting factor of outpatient surgery, which is making the use of peripheral nerve blocks (PNBs) increasingly common. As use of PNBs becomes increasingly popular in outpatient surgery facilities, the complexity of nursing responsibilities for these patients has increased, writes Imelda Wright, BSN, RN, CNOR, unit educator and clinical informatics nurse in the Outpatient Surgery Center at Baptist Hospital East in Louisville, KY.
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Teach-back is a good method for every patient education program because frequently educators don't ask clarifying questions following an education encounter, says Paula Robinson, RN, BC, MSN, patient, family, and consumer education manager at Lehigh Valley Health Network in Allentown, PA.
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Providing written information for the patient with heart failure to use at home is important for reinforcing what was taught, says Eileen Brinker, RN, MSN, heart failure program coordinator at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) Medical Center.
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Last June, The Joint Commission announced its new focus on accountability measures. At that time, it was determined that all but six of the 28 Joint Commission core measures that were aligned with Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) measures were accountability measures. Now, it has been determined that four of these six non-accountability measures that are common to CMS and The Joint Commission will be retired, effective with Dec. 31, 2011, discharges.
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Teach-back protocols in educational programs for heart failure patients have been helpful in reducing readmissions. When this technique is used to assess skills in key areas pertaining to the management of this disease, gaps in understanding can be addressed swiftly.
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The American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) has launched a new video on its lifelinepatients YouTube channel that highlights the need for responsible use of pain medication and proper disposal of the drugs.
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At St. Luke's Hospital in Cedar Rapids, IA, the essential information that will help patients manage their heart failure and prevent hospital admissions is provided in the form of questions.
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The fundamentals of teach-back need to be taught to staff members who educate patients, says Eileen Brinker, RN, MSN, heart failure program coordinator at the University of California, San Francisco Medical Center. Brinker learned these fundamentals at the Institute for Healthcare Improvement in Cambridge, MA.
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In a quick-moving, high-volume area such as the emergency department (ED) of Botsford Hospital in Farmington Hills, MI, communication breakdowns are bound to happen between patient access and clinical staff.
