Hospital Surveys by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services: An Analysis of More Than 34,000 Deficiencies.

Objectives: The aims of the study were to analyze hospital deficiencies reported by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for a 10-year period (2007-2017) and thereby determine the specific conditions of participation (CoP) cited in each deficiency.

Methods: Deficiency data from the CMS Web site was downloaded and analyzed. A determination was made regarding the CoP assigned to each deficiency.

How many operating rooms are needed to manage non-elective surgical cases? A Monte Carlo simulation study.

Background: Patients often wait to have urgent or emergency surgery. The number of operating rooms (ORs) needed to minimize waiting time while optimizing resources can be determined using queuing theory and computer simulation. We developed a computer program using Monte Carlo simulation to determine the number of ORs needed to minimize patient wait times while optimizing resources.

Optimizing the OR: a bottom-up approach.

Efficiency in the operating room (OR) has important implications on finances, access, and patient and staff satisfaction. UC Davis Medical Center (UCDMC) launched an initiative to increase OR efficiency by using multidisciplinary staff-based teams. The initiative freed up 5,500 annual hours-about 1 hr per operating room per day-in the OR by improving the percentage of first case on-time starts, reducing OR turnover times, improving scheduling predictability and reducing the number of controllable cancellations.

Effect of high-frequency alternating current on spinal afferent nociceptive transmission.

Objective: The study was performed to test the hypothesis that high-frequency alternating current (HFAC) ranging from 2 to 100 kHz delivered to the spinal dorsal roots reduces activity of spinal wide dynamic range (WDR) dorsal horn neurons (DHNs) during noxious peripheral stimulation.

Materials And Methods: This hypothesis was tested in both small and large animal in vivo preparations. Single-unit extracellular spinal DHN recordings were performed in seven adult rats and four adult goats while testing various parameters of HFAC delivered to the nerve roots or dorsal root entry zone using various electrode types.