The guidelines that are changing surgical patients' care. Updated standards buck tradition in favor of early ambulation and doing away with NPO.

Better reflect UV rays with this Idea That Works from Richmond, Va.

Anesthesia alert: topical or block: what's best for cataracts? Factors to consider before you choose one method over another.

Fill in knowledge gaps with patients and staff with this Idea That Works from New York, N.Y.

Are your safety checklists effective enough? Without these teamwork qualities, your OR staff's pre-surgical rundowns may be incomplete.

Avoid back and forth haggling with capital equipment vendors with this Idea That Works from Texas.

5 new technologies for treating GERD. The list of minimally invasive surgical and endoscopic options is expanding.

Save time and money with this Idea That Works from Louisiana.

Thinking of buying ... Patient warming solutions. What's the best way to maintain normothermia in your patients?

Discover errors before the patient is on the table with this Idea That Works from Fairfax, Va.

Editor's Page: when cost-cutting jeopardizes patient safety. Physician claims he was told to skimp on anesthesia to hasten discharge.

Coding & billing: Medicare's 2017 outpatient payment update. How the proposed reimbursement changes could impact your facility.

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2016 cataract technology survey. Which innovations are cataract surgeons embracing?

A new way to think about retained items. Studies on the psychology of counting helped shape AORN's updated prevention guideline.

6 tips to boost your colonoscopy service line. Here's how high-volume GI centers improve their efficiency and patient satisfaction.

Prevent a cataract patient from moving his head during surgery with this Idea That Works from Florida.

Behind Closed Doors: The best of Paula Watkins. Some seriously funny stuff goes on in the OR.

Infection prevention: When everyone's a hand hygiene spy. Make surveillance everyone's job, and watch compliance rates soar.

Cutting remarks: Out to lunch. If you come back late from your break, you'd better have a good excuse.