AORN
News
Managers

July 2010

Breaking News

Final rule released on meaningful use of electronic health records
On July 13 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced two companion final rules addressing electronic health records. One regulation, issued by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), defines the minimum requirements that providers must meet through their use of certified Electronic Health Record (EHR) technology in order to qualify for the payments.

The other rule, issued by the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC), identifies the standards and certification criteria for the certification of EHR technology, so eligible professionals and hospitals may be assured that the systems they adopt are capable of performing the required functions, according to an HHS press release.

Read more on this and other perioperative news here.

Find perioperative news and updates at aorn.org/News.

Advancing infection prevention in the ambulatory setting

Experts are looking at infection control processes and outcomes in ambulatory settings as part of broader efforts to improve safety and quality. Read more

Regulatory Watch
Meeting requirements for mandatory corporate compliance.

Read all stories in the July issue of AORN Management Connections.

Manager's Q & A

On safe injection practices: A Q&A with Melissa Schaefer, MD, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Melissa Schaefer, MD, medical officer in the Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion at CDC recently spoke with AORN Management Connections about the findings from a recent publication evaluating infection control practices, including medication handling and injection safety, in ambulatory surgical centers and the resources available from CDC and others reminding health care practitioners of the importance of injection safety and how they can keep patients safe. Read more

FROM HEADQUARTERS

Find July educational resources from AORN

New focus in 2010
Beginning this month AORN Management Connections will be sent only to managers, directors, vice presidents, educators and similar leadership position titles, as well as to any member who actively opts-in to receive the free newsletter. Interested colleagues can opt-in by clicking here, logging in and then selecting the second tab at the top named Communication Preferences. Then under the Email Opt In section, check off the AORN Management Connections box and hit save.