At the onset of the pandemic, William Padula, PhD, MS, MSc, saw something distressing among the frontline doctors and nurses speaking on TV. "They had deep dark cuts and bruises all along their forehead, underneath their eyes...

It's important to include family members in the care of their loved ones on the day of surgery. Family members provide vital information about patients and help to ensure discharge instructions are followed, which prevents...

Last winter, our hospital’s surgical department closed and the entire outpatient surgery team was displaced to work in COVID-19 units. To boost spirits and morale when we returned to the OR, I planned a Step into Spring challenge...

The transition from pandemic slowdown to high-volume hustle can be difficult for staff who have been through a lot both professionally and personally. To help boost morale, look for easy-to-implement and creative ways...

John C. Britt, MD, can remember when he would use image-guided navigation technology only for difficult or revision sinus surgery. Earlier versions of the technology...

Endoscope care guidelines generally agree that dirty scopes can sit for an hour before reprocessing begins. Any longer, and bioburden is difficult to remove. To let reprocessing techs know how long scopes...

One compromised username and password. That's how hackers from the cybercriminal group DarkSide gained access to Colonial Pipeline's servers in April, prompting the shutdown of 5,500 miles of pipes that move...

My partner and I offer free phone consultations for prospective patients to provide them with a timely diagnosis of their health conditions and schedule the treatments they need. That’s especially important when dealing with...

Intraoperative fluoroscopy is a powerful but potentially dangerous aspect of many surgeries. The goal is to get the exact images the surgeon needs without exposing...

Orthopedic surgeons are like star athletes, engaging in a highly physical profession that takes a significant toll on their bodies. David Ruch, MD, an orthopedic surgeon at Duke...

Retained surgical items are considered "never events" because they're never supposed to occur — and yet they still happen all too often. "They remain the sentinel event most...

Every surgical patient should be warmed, whether it's to keep them comfortable in chilly ORs or prevent the chilling effects of perioperative hypothermia. It's equally clear that...

Patients are already nervous and anxious before surgery. Add dehydrated and hungry to the equation and their discomfort spikes as their blood sugar drops. How well...

It's always important to learn from the mistakes of others. When the Joint Commission recently reported 104 incidences involving wrong-patient, wrong-site and wrong-procedure...

Innovation starts with change. And change comes in many different forms – perhaps it's a natural progression as industries and professions evolve or, conversely, it could be...

Brett Johnson, one of the world's best cyber thieves before he became one of the good guys, reads the headlines and know he's missing out on easy pickings. The pandemic...

Linda Spaulding, RN, CIC, is a fixer of sorts. When facilities are having a problem with their infection control practices, they call her in to figure out how to solve it. Based on...

Identifying the right candidates for surgery is the first and most critical aspect of successful outpatient total joints programs. "Patient selection is everything," says...

I started working as a nurse in 1980. Not even three weeks into my training, I was learning how to assist a difficult-to-work-with surgeon during a challenging case. The process brought me to tears — literally. At one point,...

Great ideas for your OR