SpecialtyCare is honored to share that our abstract entitled: “Experience with 46 patients with COVID-19 and…
Like many surgeons and hospitals, you know the efficacy of intraoperative neuromonitoring (IONM). Your pre-work has…
An underperforming sterile processing department (SPD) can be the source of dramatic hidden costs, both financially…
Heart surgeries are more complex than ever. To ensure the best patient outcomes, perfusionists should meet…
Data suggests that there will continue to be a perfusion shortage across the entire United States….
Every day, healthcare facilities’ sterile processing departments handle thousands of reusable surgical instruments and devices. The…
SpecialtyCare is honored to be a partner of Houston Methodist Hospital, working alongside their medical teams…
Some providers have learned that balancing both clinical and economic concerns must begin on the most…
Innovations in healthcare have outpaced the generalized sterile processing department capabilities. Rapid advancement in surgical procedures…
What is Intraoperative Neuromonitoring or IONM? Intraoperative neuromonitoring (IONM) is the continuous surveillance of a patient’s…
Healthcare is a labor-driven service that depends on the talent and competencies of each member of…
In surgical teams, health professionals are highly interdependent and must work under time pressure. It is…
With over 300 million people worldwide going under the knife every year, safer surgery is a…
SpecialtyCare is honored to be joining the World Federation of Neurology and the International Parkinson and…
We know that it’s not enough for an organization to simply state its values. We are…
Offering excellent IONM services starts with the hiring and training process. There are only a very…
We know that it’s not enough for an organization to simply state its values. We are…
SpecialtyCare is honored to share that our abstract entitled: “Experience with 46 patients with COVID-19 and…
SpecialtyCare recently hosted two educational webinar opportunities for perfusionists and critical care physicians. Both sessions were…
We sat down with Jessica Campbell, SpecialtyCare’s Manager of the Credentialing Department to learn about the…
How can we as surgical neurophysiologists improve a patient’s experience and surgeon satisfaction? At SpecialtyCare, it…
The research is there — ECMO programs are saving lives on a more frequent basis. But…
SpecialtyCare continues to place an important focus on sharing our published research on the role of…
We sat down with Awilda Rivera, SpecialtyCare’s Manager of the Scheduling Department to learn about the…
The need for perfusion services is rising due to the decrease of available perfusionists and the…
The biomed technicians of SpecialtyCare are maintaining their usual high standards, despite the challenges involved in…
SpecialtyCare’s real-time cohort of 32 patients across 9 states over 24 days is the largest published…
Sterile processing has always had a uniquely important role in the hospital, all the more so…
Lauren Bosch, a 30-year old nurse in Fayetteville, Arkansas, is an RN studying to become an…
Today, our guest is Kirti Patel, the National Clinical Specialist for Perfusion at SpecialtyCare. In this…
In this special episode, we focus on the COVID-19 outbreak that is currently happening in the…
This pandemic has us living in a dynamic and intense time, globally and in healthcare specifically….
It is certainly an uncertain time in our nation, and we are relying on healthcare workers…
As the world deals with the fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic, many of us are wrestling…
New Application Deadline, April 22, 2020 This has been a challenging time for everyone and our…
As healthcare providers, we understand that this is a challenging and uncertain time for everyone. We…
Our country is facing unprecedented times, and need healthcare professionals – the heroes on the front…
PENCIL Foundation is a premier organization in Nashville that provides a unique opportunity for Metro Nashville…
When it comes to innovation in the OR, SpecialtyCare works to stay on the leading edge…
In early February, members of the two teams that make up SpecialtyCare’s biomedical department convened at…
Perfusion services are in high demand as the number of cardiac surgeries increases and the uses…
The surgical neurophysiologist functions as the patient’s advocate at every level. This role requires a high…
Perfusion is a vital part of cardiac surgeries, but many people are still unaware of what…
Like many of our IONM clinicians, the field of intraoperative neuromonitoring wasn’t Megan Neckelmann’s radar originally….
SpecialtyCare stands out from the competition in the intraoperative neuromonitoring (IONM) space in a number of…
SpecialtyCare is proud to offer intraoperative neuromonitoring (or IONM) services for hospitals and clinics nationwide. In…
Perfusion is a vital and continually developing field, one that is instrumental to the overall efficacy…
“Medicine is a science of uncertainty and an art of probability.”—William Osler. This statement sums up…
This merger increases SpecialtyCare’s market leadership as the nation’s largest, most comprehensive provider of perfusion services,…
Like many Biomedical Chemistry majors, Cassie Lopez had intentions of going to medical school after graduation….
When I joined SpecialtyCare and graduated from the SNI training program, I was excited to enter…
UPDATE: Due to the circumstances surrounding the COVID-19 Pandemic, we have extended our Application Deadline to…
SpecialtyCare would like to congratulate Salem Health for 30 years of cardiac surgery excellence. The cardiac…
Perfusion is the circulation of blood to organs and tissues in the body, which provides them…
Deal increases market leadership as the nation’s largest, most comprehensive provider of intraoperative neuromonitoring November 19,…
“Speak loudly, clearly and confidently. Your delivery is a big part of the message.” Neurosurgeon Dr….
For this edition of Life in the OR, we are thrilled to highlight Anthony (Tony) Brown,…
The SpecialtyCare is proud to announce that our IONM training program has been selected as the…
Congratulations to Yajun Ren, PhD, CCP, LP, perfusionist for SpecialtyCare, for receiving the Utley Award at…
In healthcare, sometimes a career change can provide the mental boost someone needs to avoid burnout,…
Jodi Parsons, DC, CNIM Jodi Parsons was in private chiropractic practice with her husband for just…
In a comparison with other high-income countries, the United States spends the most on healthcare —…
In a comparison with other high-income countries, the United States spends the most on healthcare —…
If you’re already in perfusion school or considering a career in perfusion, you might already be…
Dan Filipkowski, DC, CNIM, D.ABNM “You just made that up, didn’t you?” That’s what Dan Filipkowski…
We all know that disease can be transmitted in many ways in a hospital, but some…
Intraoperative neuromonitoring (IONM) is a surgical innovation that monitors the electrical potential of nerves, allowing surgeons…
Perception is reality. As a healthcare professional, developing a strong online presence backed with client referrals…
For people who aren’t already in the healthcare field, it can be mighty confusing to decipher…
If you visited the main services pages on our website already (and you probably have if…
Sometimes you just need to make a bold move to get your life moving in the…
Time in the operating room has a significant effect on revenue and costs for hospitals. In…
Every year in the United States, around 50,000 college students apply to medical school. In the…
As newcomers on the surgical team, there’s no doubt that many of you will be scheduled…
When talking about jobs in the healthcare profession, seemingly vague-sounding terms like “allied health” can be…
If at first you don’t succeed…. This proverb is one Erin Friesenborg knows all too…
The U.S. healthcare system spends almost $10 billion dollars every year treating the top Hospital Associated…
As the CEO of SpecialtyCare (and as a surgeon), I feel it is imperative that I…
To say that Kerry Cultice Dodds is busy would be quite an understatement. She’s a mom,…
SpecialtyCare is currently hiring for IONM positions in the northern Virginia region. If you’re already a…
Blood transfusion is widely considered to be a beneficial treatment, but the American Medical Association and…
We are thrilled to announce the SpecialtyCare IONM training program has graduated its 100th associate. This…
June 7, 2019 (Brentwood,TN)—SpecialtyCare—the nation’s leading provider of outsourced intraoperative neuromonitoring (IONM) services—is pleased to announce…
It doesn’t get much better than West Palm Beach, Florida. Luckily for all you IONM specialists…
If you’re looking at your medical career options, you have a number of good reasons to…
The study, “The Influence of Intraoperative Autotransfusion on Postoperative Hematocrit after Cardiac Surgery: A Cross-Sectional Study,”…
Findings of the study, “Goal-Directed Perfusion Methodology for Determining Oxygenator Performance during Clinical Cardiopulmonary Bypass,” were…
We’ve talked a lot about what ECMO does on our website and in our blog section,…
If you’re thinking about a career as a perfusionist, there is a tremendous abundance of resources…
Study findings were detailed in the article “Will Real-Time Monitoring Technology be a Game Changer for…
The study, “The effectiveness of acute normolvolemic hemodilution and autologous prime on intraoperative blood management during…
The history of perfusion dates back nearly 200 years. Perfusion can’t be credited to a single…
For those of you that aren’t yet familiar with ECMO, you’re in the right place. While…
Three perfusion school students and one clinical technician will receive a one-time, $20,000 award April 29,…
Happy Perfusion Week! I am Sylvana McIntyre, one of five perfusionists that have recently joined a…
Deal increases national coverage, scope of services, and market leadership as the largest, most comprehensive provider…
Happy Neurodiagnostic Week! I’m Martha Ross, an IONM clinician primarily working in Nashville, Tennessee. In just…
Intraoperative neuromonitoring (IONM), the consistent monitoring of a patient’s central nervous system during a surgical procedure,…
The study, “A BMI >35 does not protect patients undergoing cardiac bypass surgery from red blood…
Study findings, “The Unintended Consequences of Over-Reducing Cardiopulmonary Bypass Circuit Prime Volume,” were published in the…
Review the study findings, “Does the Type of Cardioplegia Solution Affect Intraoperative Glucose Levels? A Propensity-Matched…
Review the published study, “The effect of ultrafiltration on end-cardiopulmonary bypass hematocrit during cardiac surgery,” published…
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: SpecialtyCare Lee Pepper, 615-345-5572 Chief Marketing Officer [email protected] Brentwood, TN, January 14,…
Sonia Zuzek, SpecialtyCare’s Director of Clinical Education, was featured on WSMV Channel 4. She discusses the…
If you’ve spent some quality time on our site, you already know the perfusion field is…
Good news for those who want to enter the perfusion field: perfusionist schools/programs are relatively inexpensive…
If you’ve found your way to this article, then chances are you are at least somewhat…
It was a warm Summer night in July. Courtney Novello, a clinical perfusionist (and now clinical…
Each year, 350,000 people require open-heart surgery and related cardiovascular perfusion support. These procedures require a…
BRENTWOOD, TN – Nov. 28, 2018 – SpecialtyCare, the largest provider of outsourced intraoperative neuromonitoring (IONM) services,…
It has all the makings of a Hollywood script. A young doctor in between residencies packs…
SpecialtyCare re-certified by The Joint Commission and scores 100% for their third consecutive audit. We are…
There’s that old saying that everything is bigger in Texas. So is the need for perfusionists….
Registration funds will support athletics and special education at Nolensville High SpecialtyCare loves to give back…
NASHVILLE, Tenn.—SpecialtyCare—the nation’s leading provider of outsourced intraoperative neuromonitoring (IONM), perfusion, and surgical services—announced today that…
Jonathan Walters, President, Intraoperative Neuromonitoring at SpecialtyCare, recently got a chance to sit down with WSMVTV…
SpecialtyCare staff participated in a back-to-school drive, supporting our partner nonprofit PENCIL and its free school…
The World Pediatric Project coordinates and mobilizes surgical, diagnostic, and medical specialty teams to provide treatment for young people in countries where advanced pediatric care is unavailable to children in need. I was lucky to be invited on a mission trip to Honduras as part of this program. It was an incredible experience, one that I will l never forget.
How much a hospital spends on surgical supplies and staffing depends largely on its physicians, who drive 75-85% of all quality and cost decisions. Much like the selection of surgical supplies, the choice of intraoperative neuromonitoring (IONM) providers has traditionally been left to the surgeons. As a result, it’s not uncommon to have three or more IONM providers supporting different surgeons within the same hospital. This often leads to unnecessary operational complexity and high managerial costs. And, while many non-consolidated, multi-provider environments originate from surgeon preference, they can actually have a negative impact on surgeon satisfaction. Consolidating providers is an attractive solution, but consolidation cannot be accomplished without surgeon buy-in, and that requires careful planning and coordination.
SpecialtyCare’s education scholarship program is designed to support and assist cardiovascular perfusion students who demonstrate the potential to advance patient-focused care in a way that honors the legacies of Jim Brown and Gary Brukardt. The selection committee was delighted by the strong response and overwhelming quality of this year’s candidate pool, which further illustrates the extraordinary talent and commitment of our finalists. With this in mind, I am pleased to announce that the recipients of the 2018 Brown-Brukardt Perfusion Education Scholarships are Jacki Brolhorst and Robert DeGiosio. We are confident that they will make significant contributions to patients’ lives and the practice of cardiovascular perfusion for years to come.
The ABRET Neurodiagnostic Credentialing and Accreditation Board has recognized SpecialtyCare’s Intraoperative Neuromonitoring (IONM) Training Program with formal Neurophysiologic Intraoperative Monitoring program status. This makes SpecialtyCare one of only two training programs, and the sole clinical services provider, to achieve this recognition. With approval as a recognized program, our surgical neurophysiology trainees gain Pathway IV eligibility for ABRET’s Certification in Neurophysiologic Intraoperative Neuromonitoring (CNIM) testing.
PENCIL is a terrific organization that helps Metro Nashville Public School students achieve academic and future success. As a proud PENCIL Partner, SpecialtyCare regularly hosts students from Hillsboro High School’s Academy of Global Health & Science. Our fully equipped simulation operating room, or Sim OR, which is used to train our staff, provides the perfect environment to introduce the students to life as a member of a surgical team. Our Nashville IONM Operational Leadership and the IONM Education Team have designed an elite experience for the students to actively learn about electrophysiology and participate in a virtual surgical procedure that utilizes intraoperative neuromonitoring to assist the surgeon and keep the patient safe during surgery.
The risks and complications of blood transfusion are well documented. One technique commonly used to help reduce the need for bank blood is autotransfusion, also referred to as intraoperative autotransfusion (IAT) or autologous blood transfusion. IAT is a method of collecting the patient’s blood lost during surgery, processing it, and returning it to the patient. This can significantly reduce, or even eliminate the need for blood transfusions, which in turn reduces complications and the cost of care.
SpecialtyCare’s Executive Leadership supports the funding of perfusion education tuition for two students enrolled in CAAHEP-accredited programs. We will begin accepting the next round of applications for the Brown-Brukardt Perfusion Scholarship Program on December 1, 2017. Perfusion is both a vital medical service and a smart career choice. About 350,000 people need open heart surgery and related cardiovascular perfusion support every year. However, hospitals are currently experiencing a perfusionist shortage, and qualified experts are in high demand. We are committed to actively recruiting smart, motivated men and women into the field to ensure that surgeons and patients have skilled perfusion care available when they need it most.
When a person is under medical care, the patient and his loved ones need to trust that the practitioner is educated, licensed, and trained in the specialty. And that’s where medical staff professionals (MSPs) come in. We maintain credentialing and licensure information, implement federal rulings and accrediting standards, and enforce the rules, regulations, and policies that govern the activities of medical staff. More than 2,000 MSPs gathered recently for the 41st National Association Medical Staff Services Educational Conference & Exhibition in Colorado Springs. The event was the perfect run-up to National Medical Staff Services Awareness Week, so I’d like to offer a recap of the conference as we celebrate the team at SpecialtyCare, and their counterparts all across the country, who work hard behind the scenes to ensure patient health and safety.
On November 3rd, we were honored to accept the 2017 Delaware Valley Patient Safety & Quality Award from The Health Care Improvement Foundation for our submission, “Implementation of a Patient Blood Management Program,” which outlines the integration of patient blood management (PBM) as a daily, embedded quality improvement strategy at Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals (TJUH). The project was evaluated on evidence of significant and sustained improvement in quality, patient safety, innovation, and the potential for replication in other healthcare organizations. As an outsourced provider of PBM implementation, we are thrilled to share in TJUH’s success and we applaud its leadership and organizational commitment to improvement.
In Puerto Rico—more than one month after Hurricane Maria devastated the island—many communities still lack the water, electricity, pharmaceuticals, communications, transportation, and other resources needed to sustain life and care for patients. At Hospital Español Auxilio Mutuo in San Juan, our cardiac perfusion team works under these challenging conditions to provide medical care, which has included a successful aortic dissection repair performed with the patient under deep hypothermic circulatory arrest while the hospital was on generator power.
Mitigating risk is top of mind in healthcare right now. The OR Excellence Conference hit this topic and many more head-on during its 9th annual gathering in Las Vegas. With 400 OR professionals in attendance, the conference curriculum focused on hospitals improving clinical outcomes, expanding caseloads, growing more profitable, and protecting staff and assets, all in an innovative and interactive learning format. Attendees are constantly looking for ways to protect their patients, succeed economically, and position their hospitals for the future while mitigating the risk of moving away from volume-based reimbursement to value-based care tied specifically to improving patient outcomes and minimizing clinical variation.
The OR Manager Conference is the premier executive-level event for OR directors and OR business managers concerned with management of the surgical suite, and is dedicated to providing industry solutions and leading best practices. With 1,400 executive OR professionals in attendance, the focus this year was to improve efficiency and affectivity with sessions on patient safety, infection control, OR flow, staff motivation, and leadership. All of these topics were discussed in keynotes, in sessions, in networking events, and in the exhibit hall in the context of preparing strong OR leaders for the unpredictable climate we’re currently experiencing in healthcare.
Data-driven, metric-based healthcare is required in today’s value-based environment and essential for sound decision-making. Without it, you’re simply guessing. Cost reductions and real increases in volume, efficiency, and ultimately revenue can be achieved when data and analytics are at your fingertips. That’s why we are excited to introduce SpecialtyCare OptimizeOR™, a user-friendly decision support and analytics system that helps OR managers improve productivity in perioperative performance. OptimizeOR software pulls your key performance measures into an easy-to-use online interface so that you can better manage resources for improved scheduling, staff allocation, and supply utilization. Optimized resource management makes space for increased case volume, minimizes inefficiency, reduces unnecessary spending, and drives patient and surgeon satisfaction.
When hosts of the two most prominent perfusion education conferences join forces to create a single premier event, you can count on a four-day learning experience like you’ve never attended before—and that’s what SpecialtyCare and Perfusion.com have planned in 2018. For 30 years, SpecialtyCare hosted Mechanisms of Perfusion, one of the industry’s most highly regarded advanced learning forums. The Sanibel Symposium, hosted by Perfusion.com, has also earned a reputation as an elite, highly attended meeting, both in person and via their live webcasts. So, we are thrilled to now combine our expertise and resources to present The 2018 Sanibel Symposium, an unparalleled cardiac perfusion learning event at the Sanibel Marriott Resort and Spa in Ft. Myers, Florida, April 4-7, 2018.
In healthcare, the sweet spot is the perfect balance of healthcare spending and patient outcomes. It’s the place of equilibrium that features just the right type and degree of patient care while avoiding the cost and potential harm of unnecessary interventions. Some providers have learned that balancing both clinical and economic concerns must begin on the most basic level—with a check of the patient’s blood health—and implementation of effective patient blood management (PBM) strategies.
“We have an enormous problem that is often not beginning on street corners; it is starting in doctor’s offices and hospitals in every state in our nation.” This quote comes from the recent interim report by the Commission on Combating Drug Addiction and the Opioid Crisis. Since 1999, the number of opioid overdoses in the U.S. has quadrupled. Over that same period, the amount of prescription opioids sold has quadrupled as well. With a substantial portion of the population experiencing chronic pain and more than 650,000 prescriptions dispensed every day, the medical profession must employ every available strategy to address the tragic human and economic costs of opioid misuse, abuse, and dependence. One such tactic is to avoid the need for prescription opioids in the first place, or to limit a patient’s pain management need to a very short duration.
Communication in the OR is vital to patient health and safety. Late starts, delays and interruptions, decreased surgeon satisfaction, tension in the OR, and clinical errors often can be attributed to miscommunication or the lack of communication. The effect on patients can be devastating, resulting in readmission, a life-long chronic condition, or worse. The Joint Commission and other organizations routinely list communication failure as one of the most frequent causes of sentinel events, but many “never events” and other problems can be avoided with structured processes and an organizational commitment to prioritize communication.
Parts of the United States are experiencing record-breaking heat this summer, and yet, icebergs are everywhere! Icebergs—the classic metaphor for situations wherein most of the substance (and risk) hide below the surface—have been used to discuss topics as varied as psychology, homelessness, big data, influence, safety, Hemingway, and school performance. Risks hidden below the surface are prevalent in healthcare, too. When teams assess their clinical outcomes, some factors are clear and measurable. These parts of the iceberg are above the surface, and hospitals increasingly are held accountable for them. Other outcomes, or factors that affect outcomes, are lurking within the complexity of hospital operations but are demonstrably significant in the future health of the patient.
Imagine you’re riding a bicycle that slips a chain. It’s a basic fix, but you have to stop pedaling to do it. When your sterile processing chain slips, you don’t get to stop, and it’s very difficult to fix the bike yourself while you’re still pedaling. Hospital administrators and managers focused on continuous improvement are increasing attention on their sterile processing departments to improve quality, efficiency, surgeon satisfaction, and patient care. An outside sterile processing consultant who has the expertise to conduct a useful assessment and create and implement strategic plans can quickly jump start a quality improvement program without disrupting the department’s regular activities. This is a significant advantage over an in-house approach to improvement. As a result, many leading hospitals are engaging expert consultants for help.
The evolution from a wide-eyed trainee to a professional surgical neurophysiologist capable of supporting surgeons in the most complex procedures is a metamorphosis that is truly awesome and, with every graduating class, I’m reminded of the tremendous group effort behind the scenes. Our clinical instructors, medical office staff, senior surgical neurophysiologists, remote monitoring professionals, and operations leaders provide support and guidance every step of the way. This spirit of teamwork not only makes the training program successful, it also makes the goals of clinical excellence, continuous improvement, and patient-centered care achievable. I am thrilled to be part of such a group and I cannot wait to see our newest team members grow into the next SpecialtyCare IONM mentors and leaders.
Illegal referrals and inaccurate billing are often inadvertent, but can be part of deliberate and deceptive moneymaking schemes when physicians and other clinicians have ownership in outsourced providers for hospitals. Whether intentional or not, there is an ongoing pattern of regulatory compliance violations relating to the False Claims Act, the Stark Law, and the Anti-Kickback Statute. Headlines continue to regularly highlight fraudulent billing and illegal referrals that pose tremendous risk to hospitals, providers, and patients. Even alleged violations and pre-trial indictments can be costly given that regulatory agencies are authorized to suspend federal payments to providers under investigation.
In the fall of 2016, David Citarrella, SpecialtyCare’s Director of Operations for Intraoperative Neuromonitoring (IONM) in California and Nevada, let me know that an orthopedic surgeon in San Francisco planned to travel to the Republic of Moldova in Eastern Europe on a humanitarian mission. The surgeon, Dr. Dimitriy Kondrashov, had inquired about the use of IONM equipment to monitor spinal procedures during his trip. My first thought was, “What is he going to do with this equipment? It’s not like you just press one button to turn it on, then get a green light if all is good, or a red light if there is a problem.” I reached out directly to Dr. Kondrashov to see if I could help.
Scientists have been fascinated with the workings of the human nervous system dating back to the time of Hippocrates and well before. Today, as members of the healthcare community gain a greater understanding of the system—how to treat its disorders and protect its integrity—interest in the topic continues to grow. The American Clinical Neurophysiology Society (ACNS) has been a leader in education and training for the past 70 years, and its recent annual meeting continued this tradition. SpecialtyCare was pleased to present two new research studies at the event to advance the community’s understanding of intraoperative neuromonitoring (IONM) and its impact on patient health and safety.
The American Society of Neurophysiological Monitoring (ASNM) is “dedicated to the advancement of quality neurophysiologic monitoring services for neuroprotection.” Stated more simply, it’s all about patient safety. SpecialtyCare is deeply committed to supporting the Society and its mission to grow the profession, provide educational forums, develop quality standards, and build partnerships with allied healthcare professionals. As part of this commitment, members of our team serve in leadership roles with the ASNM and recently contributed several presentations at the organization’s Annual Meeting in May, an event celebrating 40 years of neuromonitoring.
Evidence-based patient blood management (PBM) strategies offer significant clinical benefits. Conservation techniques, in particular, help minimize the use of allogeneic red blood cell transfusion, which has been shown to increase the risk of postoperative complications, readmissions, and mortality among patients. Because of the importance of this area of study, SpecialtyCare researchers continue to drill down and analyze the perfusion and autotransfusion cases in SCOPE, the SpecialtyCare Operative Procedural Registry™, to examine the impact of various strategies, develop best practices, and improve patient outcomes.
To strengthen alignment among multiple surgical disciplines, the American Society of ExtraCorporeal Technology (AmSECT) and the American Association for Thoracic Surgery (AATS) teamed up to present a terrific joint learning opportunity, holding AmSECT’s 55th International Conference in conjunction with the Centennial Meeting of the AATS in Boston. The integrated program was designed to improve care by bringing surgeons, perfusionists, and other experts together to foster effective communication and coordination in the operating room. The combined meeting was a great example of collaboration that advances quality through evidence-based learning and improvement. We are proud to have been part of this special event.
Both the American Medical Association and The Joint Commission consider red blood cell transfusion to be among the five most overused procedures, yet it remains one of the most commonly performed medical interventions in U.S. hospitals today. Vague clinical guidelines and long-held norms have created wide variation in the use of transfusion, but many administrators and clinicians are now realizing that reducing transfusion rates with evidence-based patient blood management programs can provide significant clinical and economic benefits.
It’s hard to overstate the importance of trust and confidence in the operating room when so much is on the line. The surgeon needs to know that every member of the OR team is experienced and reliable. This is especially true of the surgical assistant, who serves as an extension of the physician before, during, and after the procedure. In addition to providing exceptional clinical skills, a valuable surgical assistant (SA) understands the surgeon’s preferences and enables a rhythm and a shorthand that promote successful patient outcomes and surgeon satisfaction.
This weekend is Mother’s Day. The women who nurtured our young selves also inspired us to dream of who we could become. Many of us grew up witnessing these special women diligently pursuing excellence in scientific or health-related careers, and we chose to follow similar paths. Here are a few tributes to the mothers behind our SpecialtyCare family. We encourage you to take a few minutes to remember the women whose love and inspiration made a difference in your life.
In the original Star Wars movie, we cheered as the Rebel Alliance strike teams zipped through the trenches of the Death Star to hit a tiny target and win a great victory. (Yes, today is Star Wars Day – May the Fourth be with you!) Laparoscopic surgeons use similar tactics as they navigate narrow openings in tightly focused procedures to help patients achieve big improvements. As demand for such services continues to increase and your hospital grows its laparoscopic services, you’ll need a minimally invasive surgical support (MISS) program you can rely on. Our latest guide, The True Value of a Minimally Invasive Partner in Your OR, will help you navigate the process of providing a strong, integrated partner for your surgeons and OR teams.
Sometimes a few fundamental changes can breathe new life into an existing process and, as a result, enhance the performance of your surgeons and staff. Even if your routine is working relatively well, service line changes in your operating room can achieve improved results, such as higher levels of surgeon satisfaction and patient care quality, both of which can generate greater value for your organization and your patients. But any changes in and around the surgical suite need surgeon support to optimize success. Here are six guidelines to help engage surgeons as a first step toward project planning and improved performance.
Perfusion is an integral part of your hospital’s cardiovascular care program, but the overhead costs and administrative burden of maintaining and managing a team of reliable perfusionists with advanced skills can pose challenges for program administrators. It can be easy, however, to overlook both the indirect costs and benefits of clinical services. So, whether your perfusion is handled in-house or outsourced, we’ve developed a new guide, The Real Spend of Your Perfusion Program: Twelve Tips to Discover the True Value, to help you evaluate your program and any changes that you might be considering.
AORN 2017 was the place to be for perioperative registered nurses and others who share a continuing commitment to quality care. Nurses, and the hospitals they represent, are constantly looking for ways to improve patient outcomes while also reducing the cost of care. Both of these goals were addressed in some of the most talked-about educational sessions and posters presented during the conference. Cost containment and better clinical outcomes were also recurring themes among the 600 attendees who visited our booth. In addition to exhibiting, we hosted an educational networking dinner that featured a presentation on one of healthcare’s hottest topics—patient blood management (PBM).
We all want the best quality for the best value, but it’s often difficult to evaluate our options accordingly. Hospitals that are exploring outsourced intraoperative neuromonitoring (IONM) options obviously want to know what they’re paying, which can be difficult when different vendors present different pricing models and different services. It can be like comparing apples to oranges to strawberries. They’re all fruit, but clearly not the same. Here are some quick tips for evaluating outsourced IONM services, taken from our new guide, The Real Spend of Your IONM Program: Eight Tips to Discover the True Value.
We hear a lot these days about STEM education—an interdisciplinary, applied approach to teaching science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The rise of women in STEM careers is notable, too. So, as Women’s History Month draws to a close, we decided to look to the future being built right now by some of the women at SpecialtyCare who pursued careers in science and are responsible for our clinical education and training programs today. Each has had a unique journey that includes education, choices, gumption, and surprises. They actively honed their interests and cultivated their talents to reach their current roles, and they continue to apply their strengths toward additional growth for themselves and others—men and women alike.
In 1982, PENCIL Foundation—an alliance of business leaders and local school administrators—was created to provide new opportunities that promote achievement by young people enrolled in Nashville’s metro public schools. The Foundation’s PENCIL Partners program now includes more than 800 community-school partnerships that serve over 80,000 students. As a proud member of PENCIL Partners, SpecialtyCare regularly hosts students from Hillsboro High School’s Academy of Global Health & Science to introduce them to careers in the healthcare field.
A complex system offers a lot of places to hide bad behavior. Medicare and Medicaid—programs at the heart of the current healthcare debate—are particularly vulnerable to violations of Stark Law, the Anti-Kickback Statute, and the False Claims Act. Nearly every day, the Office of Inspector General (OIG) issues details of individuals and hospitals being charged or convicted of healthcare fraud and abuse. Financial penalties and the possibility of imprisonment aside, damning headlines can destroy the bottom line and reputation of even the most respected providers. Compliance violations drive up healthcare costs and compromise patients who are overcharged or subjected to unnecessary tests and treatments.
Consolidation in healthcare is nothing new, in fact it’s hotter than ever. Most analysts, and others who know the industry well, will tell you this trend is positive as we seek better patient outcomes, operational efficiencies, and cost containment to deliver higher value care. In the outsourced medical service provider sector of healthcare, we also can increase value with mergers and acquisitions. As the sector matures, consolidation offers new opportunities to provide customers with high quality, specialized, and reliable services that support hospitals’ goals within today’s rapidly changing healthcare environment.
Collaborating and sharing research findings and best practices with other medical professionals is one of the great pleasures of working in healthcare. Recently, the American Academy of Cardiovascular Perfusion’s 38th International Meeting gave SpecialtyCare’s Medical Office team members the opportunity to present two new papers to the perfusion community. One of the studies examines “The Effect of Ultrafiltration on End-Cardiopulmonary Bypass Hematocrit during Cardiac Surgery.” The purpose of this research was to evaluate the effect of ultrafiltration on end-cardiopulmonary bypass hematocrit by cardiac surgical procedure type. The findings are summarized in today’s blog.
When we decided to create the Brown-Brukardt Perfusion Scholarships program in honor of Jim Brown and Gary Brukardt—men who helped advance the practice of perfusion—we felt it was important to find and support students with the potential to drive improvement in healthcare like Jim and Gary did throughout their careers. Today, we are proud to announce that Cassandra Wuest and Kyle Zelesnick are the recipients of our 2017 perfusion education scholarships, and they are even more talented and impressive than we had hoped.
Recently I attended the 2017 Annual Meeting of The American Academy of Cardiovascular Perfusion. The AACP, as always, offered strong educational content and a great opportunity to meet up with friends and colleagues. While there, I had the pleasure of presenting co-authored research on “The Effectiveness of Acute Normovolemic Hemodilution and Autologous Prime on Intraoperative Blood Management during Cardiac Surgery.” The AACP honored our team, which includes our perfusion associates and their tireless dedication to clinical excellence and data collection, by selecting this work as the meeting’s Best Paper. I encourage you to read the abstract for additional detail, but here’s a summary of our findings, which highlight the value of thoughtful perfusion strategies that can reduce the need for costly transfusions and increase the likelihood of better clinical outcomes.
Changes in reimbursement models are driving changes in operations, including data collection and reporting. Providers are being encouraged and incentivized to implement value-based care (VBC) that emphasizes cost savings and quality outcomes instead of the traditional fee-for-service (FFS) reimbursement model that pays according to the number of procedures performed. The idea is that when hospitals have financial incentives to be accountable for patient outcomes, then the comprehensive focus on quality will result in overall lower costs. Transitioning from FFS to VBC may be especially difficult for ORs with their high costs of procedures, but several strategies can help clear the path to progress.
SpecialtyCare has completed an asset purchase of Trident Health Resources, Inc., a highly regarded, clinically focused perfusion company. With the people of Trident joining SpecialtyCare and moving forward as one team, under one name, we have the opportunity to support each other and learn from each other as we participate in some of the most complex and interesting procedures performed today. We are uniquely positioned to define what superior clinical and financial outcomes look like and to provide those outcomes for our patients and our customers. We are thrilled to join together to serve as a resource for perfusion care and best practices that in-house and competitive programs simply cannot match. It’s an exciting time, and we look forward to all that we will accomplish together.
Ultrafiltration is thought to reduce morbidity and the risk of red blood cell transfusion, however very few studies have examined the relationship between ultrafiltration and the overall risk of intraoperative RBC transfusion. Using data from the SpecialtyCare Operative Procedural Registry (SCOPE™), our study looks at a population of nearly 98,000 adults undergoing cardiac surgery at 197 hospitals to evaluate the effects of ultrafiltration volume removed during CPB on the relative risk of receiving an intraoperative RBC transfusion. Recognizing the findings of our own previous work, we were especially interested in testing potential differences between male and female patients in the effects of ultrafiltration.
Those of us who work in healthcare understand the importance of structured processes and clear communication during a patient handoff. Discontinuity puts the patient at risk and increases the likelihood of medical errors. As an outsourced OR services provider, a handoff takes on another meaning for us at SpecialtyCare—the transfer of an entire service without interrupting hospital operations or compromising patient care.
The mission of The Joint Commission (TJC) is “to continuously improve health care for the public, in collaboration with other stakeholders, by evaluating health care organizations and inspiring them to excel in providing safe and effective care of the highest quality and value.” It’s a lofty goal, and one that has helped thousands of healthcare organizations improve. Unfortunately, the prospect of a TJC review is stressful and overwhelming for many healthcare providers. It doesn’t have to be. Check out these three things we’ve learned by designing and implementing a tested program that ensures that the people of our organization are always prepared to pass a stringent TJC evaluation while also meeting the requirements of our own internal quality programs.
From a healthcare perspective, the only thing we can be certain of in 2017 is that there will be uncertainty. For healthcare administrators, there is uncertainty around how to manage changes in provisions of the Affordable Care Act, Bundled Payments for Care Improvement (BPCI), and the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA). Restructuring Medicare and Medicaid could have a significant impact on planning, implementation, and payments for providers. But, regardless of the new format, healthcare providers like SpecialtyCare will always have an obligation—both to their patients and their customers—to improve value by providing high-quality care while containing costs.
It is a fairly well-known fact in the cardiac community that women have higher morbidity and mortality associated with coronary artery bypass (CABG) procedures. The reasons traditionally given for this disparity include women’s relatively smaller vasculature, higher incidence of anemia, and smaller circulating blood volume. Early in 2016, we in the Medical Department were discussing this phenomenon and decided to design a study using the robust data from our SpecialtyCare Operative Procedural Registry to find something in the intraoperative space that might be leading to these very different post-operative outcomes for men and women. Our findings were somewhat surprising.
SpecialtyCare is determined to drive awareness of perfusion as both a vital medical service and a smart career choice. As part of this effort, we are proud to officially launch the Brown-Brukardt Perfusion Scholarship Program. Every year, SpecialtyCare will award perfusion education tuition to two students enrolled in CAAHEP-accredited programs. Jim Brown and Gary Brukardt—men with close ties to SpecialtyCare who helped evolve the practice of perfusion over the last three decades—exemplified integrity, leadership, and dedication to patient care. Our goal is to support students who share these qualities and demonstrate outstanding potential as cardiovascular perfusionists.
It’s been said that “Everyone has a special talent, some are just flashier than others.” And so it is in healthcare. Behind every high-visibility physician and hands-on surgical team, there is a large group of people in back offices providing invaluable support. Everyone plays an important role—from human resources and training to accounting and scheduling. But today, as part of National Medical Staff Services Awareness Week, we proudly recognize our credentialing team at SpecialtyCare, and indeed in healthcare settings everywhere, for their contributions to quality patient care and safety.
The role of an expert IONM team is critical in the timely identification of adverse neurophysiologic changes and in promoting corrective action by the surgeon and anesthesiologist. Our research is based on clinical IONM data from SpecialtyCare’s Operative Procedural Registry. Taking advantage of big data—nearly 70,000 cases in this study—ensures that our conclusions are statistically significant, a vital aspect of evidence-based improvement in healthcare. It was an honor to present this study to such a prestigious group of surgeons at NASS and, in doing so, provide actionable information to help elevate the quality of care across the country.
On October 26, 2016, SpecialtyCare acquired Sentient, a highly regarded intraoperative neuromonitoring provider. We’re thrilled to welcome the people of Sentient to our team. We believe we’ll be a great fit together, both clinically and culturally. Combining our talent and experience will enhance our collective strengths and create new opportunities to advance patient care and drive clinical quality, which reduce costs for our patients and customers.
In August, a prolonged “no-name” storm deluged Louisiana, producing three times more rain than Hurricane Katrina. Lives were lost and the unprecedented flooding damaged or destroyed more than 100,000 homes and displaced thousands of people. As medical professionals, SpecialtyCare’s clinicians routinely step up when disaster strikes—we live and work in the communities we serve. But, stepping up can take different forms. In this week’s blog, we share a letter from a member of our intraoperative neuromonitoring group, who rallied the team to help the people of Louisiana.
Sylvia Burwell, Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), is tasked with transforming our healthcare system from a fee-for-service model to a value-based system driven by the goals of access, affordability, and quality. Initiatives and legislation linked to Medicare, Medicaid, and other programs, such as the Health Insurance Marketplace and the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, have all but upended our healthcare system, sending providers, payers, and patients scrambling to understand and manage the changes.
When Richard Lawson talks with young people about their future, he sometimes suggests a stint in the military. Other times he suggests a career in the medical field. And sometimes, he suggests both. These are not just casual recommendations—he speaks from experience. Technical Sergeant Lawson is a military veteran and a member of the Kentucky Air National Guard. He is also a SpecialtyCare perfusionist. His discipline and dedication over the years has resulted in not just one, but two, meaningful and impressive careers.
Estimates vary when calculating the money lost to fraud—it’s difficult to measure that which is undetected—but the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) states that healthcare fraud costs the country tens of billions of dollars each year. Paying for law enforcement, legal resources, and sophisticated technology to combat the problem adds to the price tag. Taxpayers and employers endure the financial brunt of fraud, but illegal schemes can also put patient health at risk. Clearly, healthcare fraud is not a victimless crime.
It’s not surprising that surgeons report high levels of burnout and a lack of professional satisfaction; nor is it surprising that the problem is getting worse. This creates concern for both the well-being of surgeons and the quality of patient care. As with other problems that might seem overwhelming, however, small adjustments can make a big difference. Here are some ways you can move the needle on surgeon satisfaction and, by extension, create efficiencies, lower costs, and realize better patient outcomes.
Our intraoperative neuromonitoring (IONM) research studies show that IONM helps keep patients safe during surgery, decreases complications, and reduces costs associated with the use of analgesics, length of hospital stay, neurorehabilitation, and long-term chronic care. One such study, Neurologic Outcomes Following Differential Resolution of Neuromonitoring Alerts during Extradural Spine Surgery, examines the relationship between reversal of intraoperative neurophysiologic change and neurologic outcome following segmental spine surgery.
Building a highly talented clinical workforce is imperative for providing the best possible patient outcomes. We know, however, that the most passionate and effective healthcare professionals offer much more than clinical competence and they look for value in their work that extends beyond excellence in clinical care. They look for the intangibles and meaningful connections that prompted them to choose healthcare as a profession in the first place. Our goal is to sustain a culture where our people can thrive and find satisfaction, both personally and professionally.
The source of nosocomial infections can be elusive. For investigators, infections stemming from slow-growing bacteria are particularly difficult to identify and combat when symptoms do not present for months, or sometimes even years, after exposure. Add to these challenges the severity of potentially deadly infections and a bacterial outbreak can have devastating consequences. Such is the case with nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM).
Excellence in sterile processing management is fundamental to a well-run operating room. It supports on-time starts, surgeon satisfaction, and overall efficiency—all of which translate to financial results. But, most importantly, effective sterile processing management reduces the occurrence of healthcare-acquired infections (HAIs), which can significantly harm the patients entrusted to your care.
At the 37th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Cardiovascular Perfusion (AACP), we presented research that used goal-directed perfusion methodology to determine oxygenator performance during clinical cardiopulmonary bypass. The study evaluates three oxygenators currently in clinical use and reflects how information collected by perfusionists could be utilized to provide new information to bridge gaps in knowledge when an absence of quality data is encountered.
Historically, there has not been a great understanding about the “obesity paradox,” which suggests that overweight and obese patients may have better outcomes than normal weight patients. Our newly published research confirms that while overweight and mildly obese patients do experience less blood transfusion and post-surgical bleeding than patients of normal weight, much of the observed reduction in transfusion rates in obese patients can be accounted for by other known confounds.
When I learned of a concern regarding Nontuberculous Mycobacteria (NTM) infections from use of LivaNova’s (previously Sorin) 3T heater-coolers and a change in their Instructions for Use (IFUs), I brought it to the attention of my OR Director at Memorial Medical Center. The situation has led to the development of best practices in team collaboration and infection control.
There’s good reason why I don’t roof my own house or fly my own plane. I rely on others for their specialized skills, experience, and economies of scale—knowledgeable people focused on specific activities that ensure quality and safety, keep costs in check, and know the codes and regulations that must be followed. Today, more than ever, we rely on specialization to get things done. Healthcare is no different. In fact, healthcare may be one of our best examples of an industry that can benefit significantly from specialized teams.
One of the most significant trends facing our industry today is the severe shortage of perfusionists. A current sample of 10% of active perfusionists found that nearly 50% are over 50 years old, and in 2015 there were almost 30% fewer new graduates entering the field than professionals leaving the field. This rate of decline cannot be sustained for long before the deficit poses serious risks to the 350,000 patients who need heart surgeries and perfusion services each year.