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

During my anesthesia training, instructors would often compare the complexities of administering sedation to learning how to fly a plane. Anesthesia providers, like their pilot counterparts, undergo rigorous training....

Bundled payments lead to cost-effective orthopedic care by allowing providers to make decisions based on what's best for their patients and the bottom line. How does it work?...

Spine tables are highly configurable, versatile and functional, and key to achieving clinical success in a specialty known for complex cases. When evaluating the options for purchase, the top concern is finding the right fit...

Last year, Dallas-based Tenet Healthcare furloughed approximately 3,400 members of its workforce and specifically cited the pause in elective surgeries due to COVID-19 as the reason for the move. Of course, Tenet was hardly...

Endophthalmitis is a rare, but potentially devastating, eye infection that can cause permanent loss of vision. Advances in instrument sterilization practices, more effective...

A year ago, Ari Collins agreed to speak with me weeks after the George Floyd murder ignited the nation’s racial and social reckoning. Ms. Collins, a surgical tech in Denver, shared her unfiltered thoughts about systemic racism...