Four people convicted for a $154 million medical fraud scheme
Four individuals from Orange County, Calif., have been convicted for crimes related to a $154 million medical fraud scheme. The scheme involved hundreds of healthy “patients” to undergo needless surgeries in order to fraudulently bill insurance companies. The four individuals (between the ages of 58 and 66) were among 19 defendants charged in the case.
Surgeon performs operation with iPod-based navigation system
Indianapolis-based surgeon Dr. Timothy Williams performed the state’s first operation (knee) using an iPod-based navigation system, allowing him to check his surgical incisions and providing more accurate/less invasive work. The iPod, which had probes attached to it, made calculations in milliseconds, giving the surgeon a 3-D view of the inside of his patient’s knee. The device served as a reassurance tool letting Dr. Williams know that he was properly placing the implant as opposed to just “eyeballing” it.
SLN surgery shows remnants of breast cancer in lymph nodes post chemotherapy
A study conducted by the American College of Surgeons Oncology Group showed that sentinel lymph node surgery, a less invasive procedure, identified lymph node cancer remnants in 91% of node-positive breast cancer patients who underwent chemotherapy before surgery. In this procedure, only the lymph nodes containing cancer are removed, which reduces the risk of certain surgical complications. Researchers found that the surgery completely removed the lymph node cancer from 40% of patients.
Patient location often determines elective surgery decision
A report from the Dartmouth Atlas Project reviewed rates of elective and optional surgeries in patients between 2008 and 2010. The report found rate variations based on the patients’ geographical location, and this variance was due to doctors, as patients were more likely to delegate these types of important decisions to healthcare professionals. In addition, the report also suggested that the variations occurred in part to doctors’ differing opinions on how to best treat any given condition.
Earn CE credit by reading these peer-reviewed, continuing education articles from
OR Nurse 2012 and taking the tests.
An organized approach to CHAOS and related causes of fetal airway obstruction
By Chuck Biddle, PhD, CRNA and John Aker, DNAP, CRNAEarn 2.3 Contact Hours
Robotic-assisted laparoscopic bowel resection for diverticular disease
By Ruth L. MacGregor, MBA, BSN, RN, RNFA, CNOREarn 2.1 Contact Hours
Avoiding retained foreign objects
By Kyung Jun, RN, MSN, CNOR and Jennifer Blaha, MBA
From veterans to nexters: Managing a Multigenerational nursing workforce
By Mary K. Outten, MSN, RN