August, 2023

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Carl June on The Boundless Potential of CAR T Cell Therapy

Penn Medicine

CAR T cell pioneer Carl June, MD, explains how CAR T cell therapy, which has been transformative for blood cancer treatment, holds the potential to help millions more patients, if it can be successfully translated to other conditions.

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Medicare’s Budget Neutrality Rule

Radius Anesthesia

Medicare, the federal health insurance program that provides coverage for Americans aged 65 and older, has been a cornerstone of the nation’s healthcare system for decades. As healthcare costs have continued to rise, the need for fiscal responsibility and sustainability has become increasingly critical (1). In response to economic challenges, Medicare implemented several cost-saving measures, including the introduction of a budget neutrality rule (2).

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Diversity in the Field of Anesthesia 

Nashville Anesthesia Professionals

Healthcare providers interface with patients of all ages, ethnicities, genders, and sexual orientations, and thus it is important that the demographic makeup of these providers reflects the patients they care for and that patients feel comfortable and understood by their providers. This claim is backed by data; multiple studies have shown that female patients have better outcomes when treated by female physicians, across all specialties 3.

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CONTINUOUS FINGER-CUFF BLOOD PRESSURE MONITORING

The Anesthesia Consultant

EDWARDS CLEARSIGHT FINGER-CUFF BLOOD PRESSURE MONITOR Picture this: prior to surgery you place a blood pressure cuff around the middle phalanx of your patient’s right middle finger, instead of a standard cuff on the upper arm, to measure blood pressure. Is this the future? After decades of watching intermittent readings from oscillometric (standard) blood pressure cuffs, will we be monitoring data from a continuous finger-cuff instead?

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Perfusion Webinar Series: “May 6, 1953, Operative Report: Closure of a large interatrial septal defect…easily closed”

SpecialtyCare

Join Mark Kurusz as he shares an appreciation of history in the context of current CPB technology. Mr. Kurusz worked as a clinical perfusionist for 40 years and is an expert in cardiopulmonary bypass, intra-aortic balloon pumps, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, and ventricular assist devices. His presentation, “May 6, 1953, Operative Report: Closure of a large interatrial septal defect…easily closed” honors the pioneers and how scholarship leads to insights.

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Flexible Work Arrangements for Surgeons

NexGen Surgical

The surgeon profession can be comprised of many challenges. The long shifts and unpredictable hours don’t allow time that is truly away from practice. It’s no wonder studies report burnout in over 50% of surgeons. NexGen Surgical offers a comprehensive solution to address the myriad of challenges surgeons encounter. As a prominent provider of staffing […] The post Flexible Work Arrangements for Surgeons appeared first on NexGen Surgical.

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Hospital Horticulturalists Compete to Sharpen Their Skills

Penn Medicine

An annual competition at Pennsylvania Hospital helps the Grounds team strengthen their skills and refresh their horticultural knowledge.

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How to Use an Autoclave Safely

Trocar Supplies

In the realms of surgical suites, dental offices, laboratories, and even tattoo studios, a vital ally stands at the forefront of maintaining a clean and germ-free environment – the autoclave. Used by various professionals, autoclaves play a crucial role in ensuring the safety and well-being of both patients and practitioners. When it comes to surgical procedures, dental treatments, laboratory experiments, hormone pellet therapy, or the artistry of tattoos, cleanliness, and sterility are of pa

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Quality of recovery after surgery

The Anesthesia Blog

We often hear calls for the use of PROMs and PREMs in research, and a range of studies report their use in the September issue. O’Carroll et al. report the largest multicentre dataset of day 1 and 30 postpartum recovery metrics using PROMs in patients from the UK. They provide data from 1631 patients in 107 centres and find that complications occur in 1 in 5 postpartum patients following hospital discharge, with 5% of these requiring readmission (Fig. 1).

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Neurosurgery Awareness Month 2023

SpecialtyCare

August is Neurosurgery Awareness Month, a time to recognize the impact of traumatic brain injuries, appreciate the work of neurosurgeons, and raise awareness for the prevention of head and spinal cord injuries. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), traumatic brain injury is a common cause of death and disability in the US , with roughly 1.5 million Americans experiencing a TBI each year.

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Emergency Preparedness: How to Plan Ahead and Respond Effectively

CNECT

Your health center plays a critical role in supporting its community. In the event of an emergency, your facility becomes even more important, which is why it’s essential you have plans in place to combat and overcome disasters. Emergencies can strike unexpectedly and at any time, so preparation is central to best positioning your health center to respond efficiently and effectively.

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Community Refrigerator Offers Cancer Patients Free Prepared Foods

Penn Medicine

Cancer patients at Abramson Cancer Center now have access to free, healthy prepared food through a new community refrigerator at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center.

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Dental Assistant Graduate Finds Career she loves thanks to Pima Medical

Pima Medical Institute

Marjorie Abela is a 2019 graduate of our Renton campus’ Dental Assistant (DA) certificate program. She enrolled at Pima Medical shortly after graduating high school and says, thanks to her experience she now has a career she loves. Here is her story. “A couple months after graduating from high school I enrolled in the DA program at Pima Medical in Renton.

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Bariatric Surgery: A Life-Transforming Procedure at USMD Hospital at Arlington

USMD Health System

Bariatric surgery allows patients to take control of their health and experience benefits such as improved mobility, better mental health, and more.

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Top Factors to Consider When Choosing a Medical Device Supplier for Your Practice

Trocar Supplies

Patients trust that your medical practice will be clean, organized, and sterile when it matters most. How your disposable trocar supplies are delivered and who delivers them has a significant impact on the level of quality care patients receive at your practice. Ultimately, your supplies play a big role in cultivating good outcomes. Before choosing a medical device supplier, there are several things to consider, like if the supplies meet regulatory compliance guidelines and if you’re able to get

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The Demand for ECMO Specialists Is Rising. Here Are the Benefits of Becoming One.

SpecialtyCare

ECMO therapy has increased significantly over the past two decades. Nearly half the ECMO cases recorded in the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization (ESLO) live registry have occurred in the last five years. Since 1990, the number of ECMO centers has increased by 671%. And, the use of VA-ECMO increased 23-fold between 2002 and 2018. As ECMO therapy increases, the ability to handle increased volume and a greater variety of cases is critical for hospitals and medical centers.

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Experimental Design in Anesthesia Research

Radius Anesthesia

Experimental design is at the heart of scientific inquiry. Its primary purpose is to ensure that the data obtained is sufficiently reliable and valid to draw meaningful conclusions. Anesthesia research, which delves into the science of inducing a loss of sensation or consciousness, necessitates meticulous planning, given the potential risks involved and the need for absolute clarity in results.

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Chasing the Mysteries of Microbiome Communication in Our Bodies

Penn Medicine

Microbiologists Maayan Levy, PhD, and Christoph Thaiss, PhD, hope that understanding the mechanisms of the microbiome can lead to treatments for some of the most devastating diseases, from cancer, to dementia and beyond.

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Timing was everything for this Medical Assistant Graduate

Pima Medical Institute

They say timing is everything, and for Briana Boyd this is true. Hearing a commercial for Pima Medical while she was driving set Boyd’s dream of a healthcare career into motion. “I first heard about Pima Medical one day while riding in my car listening to Pandora. I had always envisioned myself working in the medical field, so I followed the encouragement of the commercial and enrolled in the nine-month Medical Assistant (MA) program.

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5 Signs Your Endoscope Needs Repair: A Guide for Hospital Staff

Total Scope

Endoscopes are vital tools used in medical procedures for visualizing internal organs and diagnosing various conditions. Like any other medical equipment, endoscopes can experience wear and tear over time, requiring timely repairs to ensure they function optimally. This guide aims to assist hospital staff in recognizing the signs indicating when an endoscope may need professional repair.

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Empowering Rural Healthcare with Advanced Staffing Solutions

NexGen Surgical

Rural Healthcare staffing works to improve efficiency, staffing and outpatient services in rural hospitals and clinics. Staffing directly relates to the overall revenue the hospital generates. The efficient and proactive staff helps to increase the revenue of any firm. Access to quality healthcare services can be limited in rural areas, particularly regarding specialized surgical procedures. […] The post Empowering Rural Healthcare with Advanced Staffing Solutions appeared first on NexGen

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10 Smart Reasons for Hospitals to Switch to an Anesthesia Information Management System

Picis

Paper-based anesthesia record-keeping is fraught with problems. Added to a clinician’s main responsibility—taking care of the patient—paper-based practices can be distracting, cumbersome, inaccurate—even dangerous. Fortunately, there’s a solution. By automatically capturing data from various devices, and through seamless interoperability with EMR systems, anesthesia information management systems (AIMS) provide a reliable, defensible, accurate and legible record that benefits hospitals, doctors

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Virtual Reality is Improving Pain Management

Somnia

Cutting-edge technologies such as Virtual Reality are already making a difference in many industries. In healthcare, VR contributes significantly to the quality of medical care and rehabilitation. It’s predicted that the VR healthcare market will reach $6.2 billion in 2029. Virtual reality is making waves in the field of pain management, offering a beacon of hope for those seeking alternative methods for pain relief.

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Embracing Life's Rhythm: Kathleen's Robotic Surgery Journey

Penn Medicine

After devoting her life and career to athletics and fitness, Kathleen Tierney was shocked to hear her heart disease diagnosis just weeks after retiring. Tierney talks about her journey having robotic mitral valve surgery performed at Penn.

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The 2023 Productivity Workstation

RK.MD

Around this time last year, I wrote a post outlining my 2022 productivity workstation. Since then, I’ve made significant changes, including the desk, monitors, and peripherals. I utilize every item listed for tasks ranging from content creation, media consumption, programming, video conferencing, and general-purpose computing. Here’s an outline of what drives my tech workflow in 2023.

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Featured Author Podcast: I-SEP Autotransfusion Device in Cardiac

Anesthesiology Journal

Moderator: BobbieJean Sweitzer, M.D. Participants: Alexandre Mansour, M.D., Ph.D.

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COMING SOON: RICK NOVAK’S NEW NOVEL, CALL FROM THE JAILHOUSE

The Anesthesia Consultant

Litigator Cicely Vella’s ex-husband is arrested for a double murder, and asks her to be his defense lawyer. Cicely rarely loses a case, but her extraordinary record is in jeopardy when she chooses to defend Sam Vella, the only suspect in what appear to be two indefensible crimes. Cicely is living the dream life of a young professional. She’s bright, beautiful, Black, and successful, but she harbors one weakness—lingering feelings for Sam, the husband who got away.

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Time and Technology Heal One Patients Wounds

Penn Medicine

A chronic wound was gradually eroding away at Andrew Holmes Jr.’s quality of life over the course of many years. Tired of dealing with the pain, he turned to Penn Wound Care at Chester County Hospital for a solution.

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Featured Author Podcast: Positive End-Expiratory Pressure in Superobesity

Anesthesiology Journal

Moderator: James Rathmell, M.D. Participants: Joerg Krebs, M.D. and Hermann Wrigge, M.D., Ph.D.

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Doppler Shift – The Angle Matters!

RK.MD

The Doppler shift equation describes the observed change in frequency or wavelength of a wave (such as sound, light, or radio waves) when the source of the wave and the observer are in relative motion. This phenomenon is known as the Doppler effect and is incredibly important to understand when utilizing ultrasound. Doppler shift = [2*f*v*cos(θ)] / c where ‘f’ is the operating frequency, ‘v’ the velocity of blood, ‘θ’ the angle between the ultrasound beam and the direction of blood flow, and ‘c’

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Right-Sided Aortic Arch (RAA)

RK.MD

Right-sided aortic arch ( RAA ) is a rare (~0.1% of the population) anatomical variation of the aorta’s position and branching pattern. It is associated with congenital heart defects (truncus arteriosus, Tetralogy of Fallot) and chromosomal abnormalities (DiGeorge syndrome, Down syndrome). There are several types of right-sided aortic arch, each characterized by specific features and associated anomalies: Type I : most common RAA configuration in which the arch vessels mirror the usual ana

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Tetralogy Of Fallot (TOF)

RK.MD

Tetralogy Of Fallot ( TOF ), named for French physician Arthur Fallot, is the most common cyanotic congenital heart defect and comprised of four cardiovascular anomalies: Right ventricular outflow tract ( RVOT ) obstruction due to pulmonic valve stenosis or hypertrophy of the subpulmonic muscle. This largely determines the extent of physiologic derangements and symptomatology.

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New Physician Response Vehicle Advances Care in Emergencies

Penn Medicine

Penn Med 1 is a large sport utility vehicle outfitted with the same lifesaving equipment as a medical helicopter. The vehicle is used to collaborate with local EMS providers to deliver advanced treatment to patients at the scene.

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September 2023 Editor-in-Chief Podcast

Anesthesiology Journal

Creator: James P. Rathmell, M.D. September 2023, Volume 139, Issue 3 Overview of September issue original studies.

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My Brokerage Portfolio – VTI & VXUS

RK.MD

The overwhelming majority of my non-retirement net worth is in my brokerage account invested in the index exchange-traded funds (ETFs) Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF ( VTI , 0.03% expense ratio, represents the United States’ total stock market) and Vanguard Total International Stock ETF ( VXUS , 0.07% expense ratio, represents the international market).

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Rocket League: Flip Reset Over Both Opponents

RK.MD

I suck at this game, but every now and then, I’ll do something which makes me happy. Here’s a flip reset in competitive 2 v 2 over both defenders.

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