Study Analyzes Impact of Clinical Pharmacist Service on TJA Outcomes
According to a study published in the September issue of The Journal of Arthroplasty, clinical pharmacist service may be correlated with improved outcomes and cost savings in total joint arthroplasty (TJA). TJAs performed at a single institution were stratified into pre- and post-implementation cohorts. Final analysis included 1,715 TJAs. The post-implementation cohort had lower readmission (1.3 percent versus 4.8 percent) and complication (1.8 percent versus 3.4 percent) rates. Average hospital length of stay was similar between the groups. The post-implementation group had improved self-rated understanding of discharge medications and very high pharmacist interaction satisfaction. The clinical pharmacist service yielded the institution an estimated $73,410 net annual cost savings.
Study: Risk Factors for Spine Disease in Orthopaedic Surgeons
A study published in the Sept. 1 issue of the Journal of the AAOS ® evaluated and identified risk factors for occupation-related neck pain and cervical radiculopathy/myelopathy among orthopaedic surgeons. Surgeons received an online survey through their state orthopaedic society pertaining to orthopaedic practices. A total of 685 responses were garnered. A significantly greater proportion of respondents reported neck pain (59.3 percent) than cervical radiculopathy (22.8 percent). When adjusting for age and sex, performing arthroscopy was correlated with neck pain. Five surgeons with neck pain and one with cervical radiculopathy/myelopathy had ergonomic evaluations.
Study: Preoperative Decolonization and SSIs in Elective Surgery
Preoperative decolonization did not decrease the risk for surgical site infection (SSI) in elective orthopaedic surgery, according to a randomized, controlled trial published in the August issue of Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research ®. A total of 1,318 patients were stratified into either the Staphylococcus aureus(S. aureus) carrier group (n = 465) or noncarrier group (n = 853). S. aureus carrier patients were then randomized to either the intervention (n = 232) or control (n = 233) group. Intervention patients received five daily chlorhexidine showers and mupirocin nasal ointment twice a day. The noncarrier cohort had 426 intervention and 427 control patients. SSI risk did not differ between the intervention and control groups in either the carrier or noncarrier cohorts.
CMS, SBA Release COVID-19 and PPP Interim Final Rules
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released an interim final rule with comment period (IFC) focused on data reporting requirements linked to conditions of participation in the Medicare and Medicaid programs, limitations on ordering of COVID-19 tests by nonphysicians, nonenforcement of procedural volume requirements for certain national coverage decisions, and reporting relief for certain quality programs. The Small Business Administration (SBA) also released an IFC on the appeals process for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). The rule provides the authority for SBA to undertake a loan review at any time to examine whether a borrower: (1) was ineligible for a PPP loan, (2) was ineligible for the PPP loan amount received or used the PPP loan proceeds for unauthorized uses, (3) is ineligible for PPP loan forgiveness in the amount determined by the lender, and/or (4) is ineligible for PPP loan forgiveness in any amount when the lender has issued a full denial decision to SBA.
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has again extended the deadline for healthcare providers to seek coronavirus bailout funding through the Provider Relief Fund until Sept. 13. Medicaid, Medicaid managed care, CHIP, and dental providers affected by COVID-19 can still apply for aid from the Provider Relief Fund. The extended deadline also applies to Medicare providers who had difficulties during the first application period or experienced a change in ownership and were previously ineligible for phase one funding.
Antiquated Maternity Leave Policies Can Deter Med Students
Despite the steady rise of female medical students, orthopaedic surgery continues to have one of the lowest representations of female surgeons, as only 5 percent of orthopaedic surgeons and 14 percent of residents are women. Surgery and medicine should be genderless careers. However, to understand why there remains a paucity of one gender, one must understand the root cause of why women are not entering orthopaedic surgery.
AAOS members across the United States are engaging with members of Congress this month as part of the monthlong In-District Advocacy Event. One of the issues members are raising with policymakers is the need to remove the ban on physician-owned hospitals (POHs). POHs are known for providing some of the highest quality care in the country, at the lowest cost, but they are prohibited from expanding or establishing new facilities due to section 6001 of the Affordable Care Act. The Creating Capacity for Communities in Need Act (H.R. 7168/S. 3547) would allow POHs to expand capacity for addressing the COVID-19 emergency and permanently increase access to care post-pandemic. Join AAOS members in taking action on the issue and follow the In-District Advocacy Event on social media with the hashtag #OrthoAdvocacyinAction.
