You probably know that among ambulatory surgery center (ASC) patients, its rare for patients to need to be transferred to a hospital at the time of discharge. However, you might not know that in the first week afterward, the need for hospital-based acute care is nearly 30-fold greater, according to recently published research.
A new prediction tool can help doctors better identify patients who are at highest risk for respiratory failure after surgery and therefore prevent the often deadly condition, suggest data from a large multi-center study published in the May issue of Anesthesiology.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has removed the provision in the Conditions for Coverage (CfCs) requiring ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) to have a radiologist on the medical staff, according to the ASC Association (ASCA). CMS estimates that the change will save ASCs $41 million annually.
Surgical teams have seen successful reductions in distractions and improved workflow after implementing a `sterile cockpit protocol during critical phases of operations, says Michelle Feil, MSN, RN, senior patient safety analyst at the Pennsylvania Patient Safety Authority in Plymouth Meeting, PA.
