Improving Compliance With Evidence-Based Laboratory Testing Recommendations and Monitoring Associated Patient Outcomes.

A team comprising nursing, medical staff, and administrative leaders at an urban academic orthopedic hospital in the northeastern United States sought to revise a preoperative laboratory testing protocol based on evidence and practice guidelines. The goal was to decrease unnecessary tests by 20% without negatively affecting patient outcomes. After adding the revised protocol to the electronic health record, audits revealed that the target goal was not met and additional strategies were implemented, including educational webinars for surgeon office personnel who ordered tests, additional webinars for advanced practice professionals, and the creation of scorecards to track surgeons' progress.

Are Rib Grafts Still Used for Temporomandibular Joint Reconstruction?

Purpose: Patients with end-stage temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pathology require TMJ reconstruction, which can be accomplished with autogenous tissue or alloplastic materials. This survey study evaluates experienced TMJ surgeons' preferences for autogenous costochondral grafts (CCGs) and/or alloplastic prostheses for TMJ reconstruction.

Materials And Methods: This cross-sectional study used an online public survey domain to query an anonymous cohort of volunteer surgeons from the American and European Societies of Temporomandibular Joint Surgeons about their TMJ reconstruction preferences.