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Patients experience fewer postoperative complications when a surgical safety checklist is used by their surgical team, reports the first large-scale review on the subject published in the June issue of Anesthesiology. By following a simple checklist, healthcare providers can minimize the most common postoperative risks such as wound infection and blood loss.
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A surgery center increased its collections 47% from a four-month period in 2012 to the same period in 2013 by collecting copays and deductibles up front. Less than 1% of patients have cancelled.
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A study in the July issue of Anesthesiology revealed that patients who receive a simple, multicolor, standardized medication instruction sheet before surgery are more likely to comply with their physicians instructions and experience a significantly shorter postop stay in recovery.
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Proving that less really is more, five specific tests or procedures commonly performed in anesthesiology that might not be necessary and, in some cases should be avoided, was published online June 16 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
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Bundled payments aim to contain healthcare costs, but some say this new payment model has the potential to incentivize undertreatment.
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In light of multiple recent studies linking feeding tubes in patients with advanced dementia with numerous treatment burdens and complications, the American Geriatrics Society released an updated position statement in July 2014 on this practice.
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Physicians or other healthcare professionals occasionally try to impede ethical discussions for a variety of reasons.
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Poor communication between providers and the patient or family is the underlying reason for many ethics consults involving conflicts over end-of-life care.