The AANS Neurosurgeon is official socioeconomic publication of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) which features information and analysis for contemporary neurosurgical practice. It focuses on issues related to legislation, workforce and practice management as they affect the specialty of neurosurgery. For today’s post we wanted to bring your attention to the newly released issue.
The August 2013 issue of AANS Neurosurgeon, with the theme, “Patient Safety and Today’s Neurosurgeon,” addresses this all-important topic. This edition considers timely concepts relevant to the theme, such as how neurosurgeons can ensure patient safety in the OR, but also how to instruct residents thoroughly without compromising either training or surgical quality. Some articles provide historical retrospectives on the development of patient safety initiatives, while others explore how registries can expand knowledge and help improve outcomes — as well as the legal considerations of disseminating that patient data.
Interestingly, the prevalent use of OR checklists is hotly debated in the Point-Counterpoint features. In “Point: Checklists Save Patients,” Mark K. Lyons, MD, FAANS, argues that checklists have had a quantifiable impact on improving patient safety. Examining another perspective in “Counterpoint: Checklists Don’t Save Lives, People Do,” Deborah L. Benzil, MD, FAANS, presents the limitations and drawbacks to the checklist approach.
Elsewhere in the issue, readers can check out new peer-reviewed research, book reviews, and updates from the DC office via its “Washington Watch” column. And as always, the “Neuros in the News” section features neurosurgeons and institutions on the move, from recent appointments to expanding departments and new neurosurgical centers.
