News & Notes

Joint Commission updates medication standards The Joint Commission has revised its medication management standards to include, among other things, policies that require facilities to have emergency backup for both medication-dispensing equipment and for refrigeration of medications that require it. The update also adds "wasting" of medications to the policy that addresses control of medication between the time a health care provider receives it and the time that it's administered.
Ups and downs of prostate cancer surgery Surgery may not be the best option for treating men who have localized prostate cancer, according to a nearly 20-year-long study of more than 730 men. During 19.5 years of follow-up, death occurred in 223 of 364 men — 61.3% — who had surgery and in 245 of 367 — 66.8% — whose cancer was merely observed. Men who had the surgery were slightly more likely to live longer, but they were also more likely to be forced to live with the side effects of surgery, such as urinary incontinence and erectile dysfunction.
Laparoscopic total pancreatectomy feasible Researchers at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Md., have shown that using laparoscopic total pancreatectomy to treat chronic pancreas disease reduces risk of post-op infections and results in faster recovery and better pain management. The procedure is far from being considered outpatient, but Martin Makary, MD, MPH, a professor of surgery at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and the study's lead author, says performing a major operation through a minimally invasive technique can mean less pain for patients and reduce the need for opioids and related complications.

Home E-Weekly July 18, 2017

News & Notes

This Pre-op Drink Lets You Just Say “No” To NPO