In this issue...
September 2008 Vol. 4 No. 9
Leading surgical safety: With CMS no-pay looming, several groups show how leadership and teamwork improve outcomes
With changes to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services reimbursement policy on the horizon, facilities and organizations have shown how better outcomes are the result of a better team environment in the operating room. For some, the solution to better patient safety is among the clouds. The aviation industry, with its preflight checklists and standardized procedures, is a model for how the surgical environment might improve.
Health organizations, celebrities discuss future of healthcare
What would you ask your next U.S. President about health care? The Creative Coalition (TCC) and several national organizations posed that question and more at "From Hollywood to the Hill: Speak Out - If I had a Minute With the Next President on Healthcare Town Hall Reception," a special event held at both the Democratic National Convention in Denver and the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minn.
Introducing the new AORN Works
To better reflect the different services it provides, AORN Management Solutions has changed its name to AORN Works and is developing a new Web site to provide greater information about its range of services for perioperative consultation and interim management and full time placement needs.
AORN membership dollars at work
During the July 2008 Leadership Conference, AORN executive director Linda Groah, RN, MSN, CNOR, FAAN, gave a presentation on the value members receive for their $100 annual member dues. Watch Groah discuss the reaction she received in this brief news video.
Are you connected?
Perioperative professionals are constantly seeking ways to communicate more effectively, whether to educate staff or prepare for a surgical caste. The AORN news department continues to seek new ways to tailor technology and communication to the needs of hte perioperative professional.
News briefing for perioperative leaders
Passengers flying on American Airlines will get a chance to learn about perioperative nurses and AORN when they listen to in-flight radio. Also in this issue, the National Quality Forum endorses consensus standards to promote public reporting and accountability, a recent study shows more than 140,000 bad reactions annually to antibiotics and more.
ASC news review
Patient and family engagement is one key to improving patient care in the ambulatory setting, according to a recent article published in the National Patient Safety Foundation's Focus on Patient Safety newsletter. Also in this issue, a new bill may aid California ASCs and the ASC Association is looking for nominees to its board of directors.
Manager's Soapbox: Dale Bratzler, DO, MPH
The surgical environment is becoming much more team based than it has been in the past due to growing recognition of the important role all perioperative personnel play, whether they care for the patient in the operating suite, preoperative or postoperative care units. Looking at most of the changes toward team-based care, a good portion rely to a great extent on better implementation of standardized practice, such as the use of a more appropriate checklist or other systems-based interventions used for every case to ensure that care is delivered safely.
With changes to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services reimbursement policy on the horizon, facilities and organizations have shown how better outcomes are the result of a better team environment in the operating room. For some, the solution to better patient safety is among the clouds. The aviation industry, with its preflight checklists and standardized procedures, is a model for how the surgical environment might improve.
Health organizations, celebrities discuss future of healthcare
What would you ask your next U.S. President about health care? The Creative Coalition (TCC) and several national organizations posed that question and more at "From Hollywood to the Hill: Speak Out - If I had a Minute With the Next President on Healthcare Town Hall Reception," a special event held at both the Democratic National Convention in Denver and the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minn.
Introducing the new AORN Works
To better reflect the different services it provides, AORN Management Solutions has changed its name to AORN Works and is developing a new Web site to provide greater information about its range of services for perioperative consultation and interim management and full time placement needs.
AORN membership dollars at work
During the July 2008 Leadership Conference, AORN executive director Linda Groah, RN, MSN, CNOR, FAAN, gave a presentation on the value members receive for their $100 annual member dues. Watch Groah discuss the reaction she received in this brief news video.
Are you connected?
Perioperative professionals are constantly seeking ways to communicate more effectively, whether to educate staff or prepare for a surgical caste. The AORN news department continues to seek new ways to tailor technology and communication to the needs of hte perioperative professional.
News briefing for perioperative leaders
Passengers flying on American Airlines will get a chance to learn about perioperative nurses and AORN when they listen to in-flight radio. Also in this issue, the National Quality Forum endorses consensus standards to promote public reporting and accountability, a recent study shows more than 140,000 bad reactions annually to antibiotics and more.
ASC news review
Patient and family engagement is one key to improving patient care in the ambulatory setting, according to a recent article published in the National Patient Safety Foundation's Focus on Patient Safety newsletter. Also in this issue, a new bill may aid California ASCs and the ASC Association is looking for nominees to its board of directors.
Manager's Soapbox: Dale Bratzler, DO, MPH
The surgical environment is becoming much more team based than it has been in the past due to growing recognition of the important role all perioperative personnel play, whether they care for the patient in the operating suite, preoperative or postoperative care units. Looking at most of the changes toward team-based care, a good portion rely to a great extent on better implementation of standardized practice, such as the use of a more appropriate checklist or other systems-based interventions used for every case to ensure that care is delivered safely.