Sri Mandava

How the FDA May Have Enabled the Recent Epidemic of Endoscope Related Infections

Infection Control, Managing Endoscopes, Patient Safety, Regulatory Compliance /

The Federal Drug Administration (FDA) and its 510(k) Clearance program may have played a role in preventing potentially dangerous endoscopes from being adequately tested before being released to the market. Because endoscopes are highly regulated medical devices, the FDA’s approval processes should be able to catch any critical health risks posed by their use. However, […]

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How Hospitals Can Drive More Value From Data Analytics

Big Data, Cath Lab, Hospital Finance, Hospital IT, Hospital Management, Operating Rooms, Operational Efficiency, Radiology, The Business of Surgery /

As adoption of EMRs at hospitals reaches saturation, hospitals and health systems are now trying to figure out how to make the most of the vast amounts of data being collected by their information systems. Focusing on data analytics in the perioperative setting can drive significant value for a hospital, given the large share of

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Opposition to Medicare Bundles is Growing

Cath Lab, Hospital Finance, Hospital Management, Operating Rooms, The Business of Surgery /

On December 20, 2016, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced the roll out of the Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI), the Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG), and the Cardiac Rehabilitation (CR) incentive payment models. With these programs scheduled to go live in July 2017, they will join expanded Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement

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Pentax Warns on Infection Risks From Some of its Endoscopes

Infection Control, Managing Endoscopes, Patient Safety /

PENTAX Medical recently issued a field correction to customers on a potential risk for contamination on one of its duodenoscope models. PENTAX duodenoscope model ED-3490TK has been declared a risk for patient infection due to an issue with the silicone adhesive used on the distal tip during manufacturing. In some cases, cracks may form in

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New Research Shows Current Scope Cleaning Processes Not Rigorous Enough

Infection Control, Managing Endoscopes, Patient Safety, Regulatory Compliance /

A seven-month study recently published by the American Journal of Infection Control found that 60% of gastroscopes and colonoscopes examined tested positive for certain bacterial growth. These bacteria were detected even after being disinfected using the current manufacturer guidelines or additional measures. The scopes examined as part of the study were all manufactured by Olympus

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How Hospitals Can Prepare For The Coming Wave Of Bundled Payments

Cath Lab, Hospital Finance, Hospital Management, Operating Rooms, The Business of Surgery /

In December 2016, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) finalized regulations regarding the Cardiac Rehabilitation (CR) Incentive Payment Model. This new bundled payment program affects over 1,100 hospitals nationwide and how they are paid for their heart attack and bypass surgery cases. The goal of this program, which has joined the orthopedic bundling

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Outsourcing of Complex Claims on the Upswing

Cost Reduction, Hospital Finance, Revenue Cycle, The Business of Surgery /

An increasing number of hospitals are turning to outsourced providers of complex claims management to help manage their hardest to collect dollars. The number of complex claims outsourced to specialists reached 39.8% in the 3rd quarter of 2016 – up from 20.4% in 2014. These complex claims typically take up an outsized portion of in-house

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Potential Outbreaks Related To Gastroscopes Revealed

Infection Control, Managing Endoscopes, Patient Safety /

A potential superbug linked to contaminated gastroscopes at UPMC in Pittsburgh, PA was discussed in a recent article in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review (01/03/17). The author, Dr. Lawrence Muscarella, wrote that the infected gastroscopes may have infected up to 6 patients with carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP), a deadly superbug. This article by Gordon Gibb of LawyersandSettlements.com

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How One Hospital Uses Advanced Analytics to Drive Savings and Improve Outcomes

Big Data, Cath Lab, Cost Reduction, Hospital Finance, Hospital IT, Hospital Management, Operating Rooms, Radiology, The Business of Surgery /

Geisinger Health System, a leading health system in Eastern Pennsylvania, has begun realizing tremendous benefits from a data analytics program established in 2015. The hospital’s Unified Data Architecture (UDA) collects and stores data from electronic medical records and other data sources to provide a holistic view of a patient’s health. Benefits of the UDA so

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Some Fuji Duodenoscopes Pulled From Market

Infection Control, Managing Endoscopes, Patient Safety /

FujiFilm Medical Systems, USA Endoscopy Division (“FMSU-ESD”) declared this week that it is removing some of its older model duodenoscopes from the market. According to FujiFilm, the ED-250XL5, ED-250XT5, ED-450XL5, and ED-450XT5 model duodenoscopes are the models that are being recalled. Per a press release from FujiFilm, which can be found here: “These devices are

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