Here are seven things for ASC leaders to know for April 24, 2017.
Rigorous scope reprocessing not consistently effective
A study published in the American Journal of Infection Control examined flexible endoscope reprocessing effectiveness in 20 flexible endoscopes. All endoscopes had visible irregularities. Ninety-five percent of the scopes had fluid discoloration and debris in the channels. Twelve scopes had microbial growth. Four scopes had no growth until after 48 hours.
Northwest Ohio Orthopedics & Sports Medicine opening surgery center
Findlay-based Northwest Ohio Orthopedics & Sports Medicine received approval for a 13,332-square-foot surgery center.
Tilden Ambulatory Surgery Center to open new facility
The Tilden (Wis.) Ambulatory Surgery Center is opening a new medical facility. The new center will include four operating rooms.
Payer groups advocates for continuing cost sharing reductions
In a letter to President Donald Trump, several payer advocate groups urged the president to continue funding for the ACA's cost sharing reductions. The payer advocate group said the funding would stabilize the individual insurance markets for 2017 and 2018.
Survey says 33% of providers using telehealth services
A HIMSS Analytics survey says approximately 75 percent of providers have virtual care incentives in place and 33 percent of providers use remote patient monitoring services.
CDC chief fears deadly Candida auris could spread
CDC Acting Director Anne Schuchat, MD, fears that deadly, superbug Candida auris poses a "catastrophic threat" to the general public. The fungus has killed approximately 61 people in the United States to date. It has an estimated 60 percent fatality rate.
Stryker opens 'OR of the Future' in customer experience center
Stryker's endoscopy division opened its customer experience center in San Jose, Calif. The customer experience center features the "Operating Room of the Future." The OR concept uses Microsoft's HoloLens, a self-contained holographic computer, to allow customers to experience a "Connected Hospital."