Is Hospital Nurse Staffing Legislation in the Public's Interest?: An Observational Study in New York State.

BACKGROUND: The Safe Staffing for Quality Care Act under consideration in the New York (NY) state assembly would require hospitals to staff enough nurses to safely care for patients. The impact of regulated minimum patient-to-nurse staffing ratios in acute care hospitals in NY is unknown. OBJECTIVES: To examine variation in patient-to-nurse staffing in NY hospitals and its association with adverse outcomes (ie, mortality and avoidable costs). RESEARCH DESIGN: Cross-sectional data on nurse staffing in 116 acute care general hospitals in NY are linked with Medicare claims data. SUBJECTS: A total of 417,861 Medicare medical and surgical patients. MEASURES: Patient-to-nurse staffing is the primary predictor variable. Outcomes include in-hospital mortality, length of stay, 30-day readmission, and estimated costs using Medicare-specific cost-to-charge ratios. RESULTS: Hospital staffing ranged from 4.3 to 10.5 patients per nurse (P/N), and averaged 6.3 P/N. After adjusting for potential confounders each additional patient per nurse, for surgical and medical patients, respectively, was associated with higher odds of in-hospital mortality [odds ratio (OR)=1.13, P=0.0262; OR=1.13, P=0.0019], longer lengths of stay (incidence rate ratio=1.09, P=0.0008; incidence rate ratio=1.05, P=0.0023), and higher odds of 30-day readmission (OR=1.08, P=0.0002; OR=1.06, P=0.0003). Were hospitals staffed at the 4:1 P/N ratio proposed in the legislation, we conservatively estimated 4370 lives saved and $720 million saved over the 2-year study period in shorter lengths of stay and avoided readmissions. CONCLUSIONS: Patient-to-nurse staffing varies substantially across NY hospitals and higher ratios adversely affect patients. Our estimates of potential lives and costs saved substantially underestimate potential benefits of improved hospital nurse staffing.

How collaborative practice agreements impede the provision of vital behavioral health services.

BACKGROUND: The critical shortage of behavioral health professionals impairs the ability of the U.S. health care system to respond to the growing demand for services to address mental illness and substance use disorders. PURPOSE: To identify how restrictive state regulations act as barriers to full utilization of psychiatric mental health advanced practice registered nurses (PMH-APRN), whose scope of practice enables them to provide a full range of behavioral health services. METHODS: A sequential mixed methods study combining interview data (n = 94) from a qualitative study of PMH-APRN practice with a subset of quantitative data (n = 699) from a national APRN survey examining the impact of state-mandated APRN/MD collaborative practice agreements. DISCUSSION: Data sources converged to portray challenges to optimal use of APRNs providing psychiatric/mental health services, including high out-of-pocket fees, irregular communication with supervisors, mandated chart reviews, and supervisor turnover. CONCLUSION: Inconsistent and burdensome supervision requirements contribute to cost inflation and may limit patient access.

Assessment of the American College of Radiology Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System for Thyroid Nodule Malignancy Risk Stratification in a Pediatric Population.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to assess the diagnostic performance of the American College of Radiology (ACR) Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System (TIRADS) for malignancy risk in pediatric thyroid nodules. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two radiologists reviewed ultrasound images of 74 tissue-proven thyroid nodules in 62 children. Points were given for individual features and then added to determine the ACR TI-RADS category, ranging from 1 (benign) to 5 (high suspicion). Kappa coefficients were generated to assess intra- and interobserver agreement. Generalized linear mixed-effects models were used to estimate the odds of malignancy with construction of a supplementary ROC curve. RESULTS: Fifty-four nodules were benign and 20 were malignant, with a median ACR TI-RADS category of 4 (interquartile range, 4-5). Nineteen of 20 (95.0%) malignant nodules were rated as TI-RADS category 4 or 5. There was substantial intraobserver agreement (κ = 0.69-0.77; p < 0.001) and moderate interobserver agreement (κ = 0.37; p = 0.002) for TIRADS category. Univariable analysis showed that, with every 1-unit increase of TI-RADS category, the likelihood of malignancy increased 2.63 times (95% CI, 1.08-6.41; p = 0.03). After adjusting for nodule size, TI-RADS category remained marginally associated with malignancy (adjusted odds ratio, 2.27; 95% CI, 0.93-5.54; p = 0.07). The AUC was 0.75 (95% CI, 0.64-0.86). An optimal cut point of TI-RADS category 5 was selected, with TI-RADS category 5 nodules 10.44 times (95% CI, 2.71-40.21; p < 0.0001) more likely than categories 1-4 nodules to be malignant. CONCLUSION: ACR TI-RADS discriminates well between malignant and benign nodules in a pediatric population, particularly at TI-RADS category 5.

Contemporary Mohs Micrographic Surgery Histologic Preparation Methods, Laboratory-Assistive Personnel Training, and Practice Setting-A Survey Study.

BACKGROUND: The Mohs histotechnologist (MH) performs tissue preparation, sectioning, and staining, which are critical tasks in ensuring a successful Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS). OBJECTIVE: To assess current norms in MH training, practice setting, and utilization of specific histologic techniques. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A 16-question survey was created and distributed using Survey Monkey to all members of the American Society for Mohs Histotechnology. RESULTS: Response rate was 30%. Most MHs received on-the-job training from other MHs or the Mohs surgeon. Mohs histotechnologists largely performed tasks related to tissue processing while Mohs surgeons generally illustrated the Mohs layer map. Automated routine staining was used in most laboratory tests, and laboratory tests used similar staining techniques. Most respondents worked in private offices verses academic centers. Total staining time was significantly longer at academic medical centers versus private offices (7 vs 5 minutes, p = .01). CONCLUSION: These findings provide an updated profile of current laboratory training and tissue preparation techniques at MMS practices across the country. Understanding the roles of the MH in laboratory functioning may help laboratories adopt best practices.

Concurrent chemotherapy is associated with improved survival in elderly patients with bladder cancer undergoing radiotherapy.

BACKGROUND: The current study was conducted to compare the overall survival (OS) of concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) versus radiotherapy (RT) alone in elderly patients (those aged ≥80 years) with muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC). METHODS: Patients aged ≥80 years with cT2-4, N0-3, M0 transitional cell MIBC who were treated with curative RT (60-70 Gray) or CCRT were identified in the National Cancer Data Base. Univariable and multivariable frailty survival analyses, as well as 1-to-1 propensity score matching, were used to isolate the association between CCRT and OS. RESULTS: A total of 1369 patients who were treated with RT from 2004 through 2013 met eligibility criteria: 739 patients (54%) received RT alone and 630 patients (46%) received CCRT. The median age of the patients was 84 years (range, 80-90 years). The median follow-up was 21 months. The 2-year OS rate was 48%. When comparing CCRT with RT alone, the 2-year OS rate was 56% versus 42% (P<.0001), respectively. Multivariable analysis demonstrated that CCRT (hazard ratio [HR], 0.74; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 0.65-0.84 [P<.0001]) and a higher RT dose (HR, 0.78; 95% CI, 0.67-0.90 [P<.001]) were associated with improved OS. T4 disease was associated with worse OS (HR, 1.42; 95% CI, 1.15-1.76 [P = .001]). After using 1-to-1 propensity score matching, there remained an OS benefit for the use of CCRT (HR, 0.77; 95% CI, 0.67-0.90 [P<.001]). CONCLUSIONS: CCRT is associated with improved OS compared with the use of RT alone in elderly patients with MIBC, independent of Charlson-Deyo comorbidity score, suggesting that CCRT should be used in this population. Cancer 2017;123:3524-31. © 2017 American Cancer Society.

Ultrasound risk stratification for malignancy using the 2015 American Thyroid Association Management Guidelines for Children with Thyroid Nodules and Differentiated Thyroid Cancer.

BACKGROUND: The 2015 American Thyroid Association (ATA) Management Guidelines for Children with Thyroid Nodules and Differentiated Thyroid Cancer provides selection criteria for nodules prior to ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the diagnostic performance of pediatric thyroid nodule risk stratification for predicting malignancy when applying the ultrasound (US) criteria recommended. MATERIALS AND METHODS: US characteristics of 39 thyroid nodules in 33 pediatric patients who underwent US fine-needle aspiration biopsy were reviewed by two radiologists. Based on the aggregated US criteria from the ATA Guidelines, each nodule was assigned a level of malignancy risk. Kappa coefficients were estimated to assess intra- and interobserver reliability. Using each patient's largest nodule observation (n = 33), univariable exact logistic regression analyses of US parameters were then conducted to estimate the odds of a malignant pathology diagnosis. A penalized Firth correction was employed in the univariable models analyzing composition, shape and level of suspicion due to quasi-complete data separation. RESULTS: Twenty-seven nodules in 21 patients (median age: 16 years; 17 female) were benign and 12 nodules in 12 patients (median age: 16.5 years; 11 female) were malignant. Intraobserver agreement was substantial to almost perfect for composition, echogenicity, shape and margins. Interobserver agreement was almost perfect for composite level of suspicion. High level of suspicion was assigned to all 12 malignant nodules versus 9/21 (43%) of the benign nodules. Level of suspicion, solid/predominantly solid composition, irregular margins and echogenic foci emerged as significant predictors of malignancy with odds ratios (OR) of 8.5 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.7-1,130, P = 0.001), 10.5 (95% CI: 1.1-1,417, P = 0.04), 53.2 (95% CI: 5.1-2,988, P < 0.0001) and 3.5 (95% CI: 1.1-23.2, P = 0.03), respectively. CONCLUSION: The composite, US-based risk stratification criteria from the 2015 ATA Guidelines may provide an appropriate and reproducible method for estimating risk of malignancy for pediatric thyroid nodules.

Evaluating the Impact of Executive Orders Lifting Restrictions on Advanced Practice Registered Nurses During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Background: In the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, strains on the healthcare system forced many U.S. states to revisit long-standing statutory limitations on the care coordinated by advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs). This was done by issuing waivers via executive, legislative, or board of nursing orders. Purpose: To identify the impact of temporary practice waivers on APRNs' direct patient care during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: This cross-sectional study utilized a two-phased approach. First, a confidential online survey was conducted of APRNs practicing across 27 U.S. states. Second, comprehensive APRN discipline data from 2019 to 2021 were retrieved from the National Council of State Boards of Nursing's Nursys database and reviewed. Univariable and multivariable binary logistic regression models were used to determine the significance of observed trends. Results: A total of 16,699 APRNs responded to the survey for a response rate of 14.2%. APRNs practicing in private outpatient clinics, in rural areas, and in health provider shortage areas were more likely to report a positive effect of the practice waiver (all p < .05). Providers noted that the waivers allowed them more time with their current patients and expanded the geographic boundaries of their direct patient care to take on new patients. Furthermore, despite the changing profile of APRN care during the early stages of the pandemic, including a pronounced increase in telehealth usage, the current review found no evidence of an uptick in discipline cases brought against APRNs in 2021. Conclusion: Full practice authority for APRNs benefits patients by promoting expanded access to care and increasing the resiliency of our healthcare system without compromising patient safety. It is time for states and organizations that employ APRNs to recognize that permanently removing barriers to APRN practice is essential to the health of our nation.

Examining the Global Nursing Regulatory Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic, nursing regulatory bodies (NRBs) worldwide adopted a variety of measures to bolster the nursing workforce and ensure patient safety. Purpose: To examine the plethora of actions undertaken by the global nursing community in response to the public health emergency so that NRBs can increase transparency and better prepare for future crises. Methods: In early 2021, the National Council of State Boards of Nursing developed an online survey to capture data on the global regulatory response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The survey focused on five specific domains: (a) governance, (b) telehealth practices, (c) nurse mobility, (d) prelicensure education, and (e) the disciplinary process. The instrument was translated into 11 languages before being deployed to 150 non-U.S. regulatory representatives. Frequencies and proportions were generated for all fixed-item responses, and descriptive content analyses were applied to translated open-text responses. Results: Regulators representing 27 jurisdictions provided valid responses to the survey. Most jurisdictions reported that components of nursing education were adapted in some way during the pandemic. More than half (53.8%, n = 14) of respondents indicated that changes were made to clinical and didactic curricula to ensure students graduated on time. About one-third (30.8%, n = 8) of representatives revealed that their jurisdiction had made changes to telehealth regulations, with many granting telehealth-specific nursing licenses. Most jurisdictions (88.5%, n = 23) also reported fewer or about the same number of regulatory complaints compared to before the pandemic. Conclusions: The results of this study highlight the range of actions nursing regulators worldwide adopted, which may be drawn upon to inform best practices to ensure jurisdictions are ready for the next public health emergency.

Virtual Clinical Simulation Adoption and Use by Licensed Practical Nurse/Licensed Vocational Nurse Education Programs During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Background: In the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, as clinical site restrictions were implemented, education programs leading to licensed practical nurse/licensed vocational nurse (LPN/LVN) degrees increasingly relied on virtual simulation-based experiences to provide clinical training to their students. However, scant evidence exists regarding the extent of this change and the various modalities employed by LPN/LVN programs across the United States. Purpose: We sought to identify the degree to which virtual clinical simulation was adopted by LPN/LVN education programs during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic to address clinical site restrictions. In addition, we hoped to identify the practices and activities that educators included under the broad umbrella definition of virtual clinical simulation. Methods: All active U.S. prelicensure LPN/LVN nursing education programs were contacted in September 2020. Program leaders were asked to estimate the proportion of clinical hours completed in virtual clinical simulation before the pandemic and the proportion anticipated for the fall 2020 term. Descriptive statistics were generated, with repeated measures analysis of covariance applied to evaluate the average change in virtual simulation within programs stratified by reported clinical restrictions. Results: Representatives from 265 LPN/LVN programs in 44 U.S. jurisdictions responded to the survey. Responding programs significantly increased the proportion of clinical hours completed in virtual clinical simulation between fall 2019 (M = 10.7, SD = 15.3) and fall 2020 (M = 35.3, SD = 27.6, p < .001). Furthermore, there was an interaction between clinical site restrictions and term, with a more pronounced uptick in virtual simulation usage among programs that indicated they found identifying clinical sites "very difficult" (M = 41.1, SD = 28.9) relative to those who found it "somewhat more difficult" (M = 23.9, SD = 18.8, p < .001). Programs adopted a range of modalities, including simply watching videos and participating in virtual or augmented reality, online software packages, or other forms of screen-based learning. Conclusion: As the adoption of virtual simulation increases, clear definitions of what constitutes clinical virtual simulation must be established. Additionally, rigorous inquiry to support evidence-based regulatory guidelines is needed.

A Preliminary Examination of Healthcare Facilities' Nurse Staffing Strategies to Address COVID-19 Surges.

Background: COVID-19 surge events exacerbated many healthcare facilities' pre-existing nursing shortages. To address staff shortfalls, nurse leaders adopted a variety of strategies to supplement their workforce. Purpose: To identify and assess the interplay between board of nursing (BON) emergency guidance and the strategies healthcare facilities adopted to bolster their nursing workforce during peak pandemic periods. Methods: A national survey of nurse executives, as identified by the American Organization for Nursing Leadership, was conducted. Univariable and multivariable ordinal logistic regression models were used to evaluate the significance of observed trends. Results: Half of the 391 nurse executives who completed the survey indicated that their facility needed to supplement their RN staffing during peak periods of the COVID-19 pandemic (n = 202, 51.7%). Most relied on hiring local experienced nurses (n = 111) or some combination of travel nurses (n = 61) or support workers (n = 60) to drive a median 10% increase in nurse staffing (n = 153, range 0%-100%). A large proportion of respondents also indicated their facility simply increased the work volume and hours of their current RN staff. Respondents rated retired nurses as significantly more competent relative to licensed new nurse graduates and pre-NCLEX new nurse graduates. Conclusion: Although the small sample limits the generalizability of these findings, preliminary evidence suggests recently retired nurses and prelicensure nursing students may provide valuable support services in the event of another public health emergency.

Examining the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Burnout and Stress Among U.S. Nurses.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has amplified long-standing issues of burnout and stress among the U.S. nursing workforce, renewing concerns of projected staffing shortages. Understanding how these issues affect nurses' intent to leave the profession is critical to accurate workforce modeling. Purpose: To identify the personal and professional characteristics of nurses experiencing heightened workplace burnout and stress. Methods: We used a subset of data from the 2022 National Nursing Workforce Survey for analysis. Binary logistic regression models and natural language processing were used to determine the significance of observed trends. Results: Data from a total of 29,472 registered nurses (including advanced practice registered nurses) and 24,061 licensed practical nurses/licensed vocational nurses across 45 states were included in this analysis. More than half of the sample (62%) reported an increase in their workload during the COVID-19 pandemic. Similarly high proportions reported feeling emotionally drained (50.8%), used up (56.4%), fatigued (49.7%), burned out (45.1%), or at the end of their rope (29.4%) "a few times a week" or "every day." These issues were most pronounced among nurses with 10 or fewer years of experience, driving an overall 3.3% decline in the U.S. nursing workforce during the past 2 years. Conclusion: High workloads and unprecedented levels of burnout during the COVID-19 pandemic have stressed the U.S. nursing workforce, particularly younger, less experienced RNs. These factors have already resulted in high levels of turnover with the potential for further declines. Coupled with disruptions to prelicensure nursing education and comparable declines among nursing support staff, this report calls for significant policy interventions to foster a more resilient and safe U.S. nursing workforce moving forward.

Application of novel AI-based algorithms to biobank data: uncovering of new features and linear relationships.

We independently analyzed two large public domain datasets that contain 1H-NMR spectral data from lung cancer and sex studies. The biobanks were sourced from the Karlsruhe Metabolomics and Nutrition (KarMeN) study and Bayesian Automated Metabolite Analyzer for NMR data (BATMAN) study. Our approach of applying novel artificial intelligence (AI)-based algorithms to NMR is an attempt to globalize metabolomics and demonstrate its clinical applications. The intention of this study was to analyze the resulting spectra in the biobanks via AI application to demonstrate its clinical applications. This technique enables metabolite mapping in areas of localized enrichment as a measure of true activity while also allowing for the accurate categorization of phenotypes.

Assessing the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Nursing Education: A National Study of Prelicensure RN Programs.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on prelicensure nursing education, leading to widespread disruptions that may have implications for nursing students' learning and engagement outcomes. Understanding how the rapid shift to online and simulation-based teaching methods has affected new graduates' clinical preparedness is critical to ensure patient safety moving forward. Purpose: To assess the impact of institutional, academic, and demographic characteristics on prelicensure nursing students' academic, initial postgraduation, and early career outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: We conducted a mixed-methods longitudinal study focused on prelicensure registered nurse (RN) students entering the core of their didactic and clinical nursing coursework during the pandemic. This study uses a combination of real-time student and faculty self-report data, including externally validated instruments, within and end-of-program standardized test scores, and focus group findings. Various statistical methods, ranging from simpler descriptive and non-parametric methods to Generalized Estimating Equation (GEE) models and detailed textual analysis, are applied to assess student, faculty, and institution-level data. Results: The final sample includes more than 1,100 student and faculty participants affiliated with 51 prelicensure RN programs located across 27 states. Leveraging more than 4,000 course observations collected from fall 2020 to spring 2022 and supplemented by the rich personal narratives of over 60 focus group participants, this study illuminates the breadth, scale, and ever-evolving nature of prelicensure RN programs' efforts to maintain the continuity of nursing students' education during the public health crisis. In doing so, it captures the many ways in which nursing administrators, faculty, and students sought to address the unparalleled challenges they confronted on a day-to-day basis. In particular, the findings provide critical insights into the efficacy of the changes nursing programs made to their course delivery formats to adjust to the confluence of rapidly evolving federal, state, and private restrictions to stem the spread of COVID-19. Conclusion: This study stands as the most comprehensive assessment of prelicensure nursing education in the United States since the onset of COVID-19. It extends knowledge by linking potential deficiencies in students' didactic and clinical education during the pandemic and their early career preparedness, clinical competence, and the patient safety implications therein.

Fibrous Cap Thickness Predicts Stable Coronary Plaque Progression: Early Clinical Validation of a Semiautomated OCT Technology.

Background: Imaging-based characteristics associated with the progression of stable coronary atherosclerotic lesions are poorly defined. Utilizing a combination of optical coherence tomography (OCT) and intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) imaging, we aimed to characterize the lesions prone to progression through clinical validation of a semiautomated OCT computational program. Methods: Patients with stable coronary artery disease underwent nonculprit vessel imaging with IVUS and OCT at baseline and IVUS at the 12-month follow-up. After coregistration of baseline and follow-up IVUS images, paired 5-mm segments from each patient were identified, demonstrating the greatest plaque progression and regression as measured by the change in plaque burden. Experienced readers identified plaque features on corresponding baseline OCT segments, and predictors of plaque progression were assessed by multivariable analysis. Each segment then underwent volumetric assessment of the fibrous cap (FC) using proprietary software. Results: Among 23 patients (70% men; median age, 67 years), experienced-reader analysis demonstrated that for every 100 µm increase in mean FC thickness, plaques were 87% less likely to progress (P = .01), which persisted on multivariable analysis controlling for baseline plaque burden (P = .05). Automated FC analysis (n = 17 paired segments) confirmed this finding (P = .01) and found thinner minimal FC thickness (P = .01) and larger FC surface area of <65 µm (P = .02) and <100 µm (P = .04) in progressing segments than in regressing segments. No additional imaging features predicted plaque progression. Conclusions: A semiautomated FC analysis tool confirmed the significant association between thinner FC and stable coronary plaque progression along entire vessel segments, illustrating the diffuse nature of FC thinning and suggesting a future clinical role in predicting the progression of stable coronary artery disease.

Occipital Neuralgia following Acoustic Neuroma Resection.

Background While postoperative outcomes of acoustic neuroma (AN) resection commonly consider hearing preservation and facial function, headache is a critical quality of life factor. Postoperative headache is described in the literature; however, there is limited discussion specific to occipital neuralgia (ON) following AN resection. Objective The aim of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of conservative management and surgery. Methods We conducted a retrospective review of 872 AN patients who underwent resection at our institution between 1988 and 2017 and identified 15 patients (1.9%) that met International Classification of Headache Disorders criteria for ON. Results Of the 15 ON patients, surgical approaches included 13 (87%) retrosigmoid (RS), one (7%) translabyrinthine (TL), and one (7%) combined RS + TL. Mean clinical follow-up was 119 months (11-263). Six (40%) patients obtained pain relief through conservative management, while the remaining nine (60%) underwent surgery or ablative procedure. Three (38%) patients received an external neurolysis, four (50%) received a neurectomy, one (13%) had both procedures, and one (13%) received two C2 to 3 radio frequency ablations. Of the nine patients who underwent procedural ON treatment, seven (78%) patients achieved pain relief, one patient (11%) continued to have pain, and one patient (11%) was lost to follow-up. Of the six patients whose pain was controlled with conservative management and nerve blocks, five (83%) found relief by using neuropathic pain medication and one (17%) found relief on nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug. Conclusion Our series demonstrates success with conservative management in some, but overall a minority (40%) of patients, reserving decompression only for refractory cases.

Transsphenoidal Resection of Pituitary Tumors in the United States, 2009 to 2011: Effects of Hospital Volume on Postoperative Complications.

Introduction Higher surgical volumes correlate with superior patient outcomes for various surgical pathologies, including transnasal transsphenoidal (TNTS) pituitary tumor resection. With the introduction of endoscopic approaches, there have been nationwide shifts in technique with relative declines in microsurgery. We examined the volume-outcome relationship (VOR) for TNTS pituitary tumor surgery in an era of increasingly prevalent endoscopic approaches. Methods Patients who underwent TNTS pituitary tumor resection between 2009 and 2011 were retrospectively identified in the State Inpatient Database subset of the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project. Generalized linear mixed-effect models were used to assess odds of various outcome measures. Institutions were grouped into quartiles by case volume for analysis. Results A total of 6,727 patients underwent TNTS pituitary tumor resection between 2009 and 2011. White or Asian American patients and those with private insurance were more likely to receive care at higher volume centers (HVC). Patients treated at HVC (>60 cases/year) were less likely to have nonroutine discharges (3.9 vs. 1.9%; p = 0.002) and had shorter length of stay (LOS; 4 vs. 2 days; p = 0.001). Overall, care at HVC trended toward lower rates of postoperative complications, for example, a 10-case/year increase correlated with a 10% decrease in the rate of iatrogenic panhypopituitarism (odds ratio [OR] = 0.90, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.81-0.99; p = 0.04) and 5% decrease in likelihood of diabetes insipidus (OR = 0.95, 95% CI: 0.90-0.99; p = 0.04) on multivariable analysis. Conclusions Our analysis shows that increased case volume is related to superior perioperative outcomes for TNTS pituitary tumor resections. Despite the recent adoption of newer endoscopic techniques and concerns of technical learning curves, this VOR remains undisturbed.

Patient outcomes and cost savings associated with hospital safe nurse staffing legislation: an observational study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate variation in Illinois hospital nurse staffing ratios and to determine whether higher nurse workloads are associated with mortality and length of stay for patients, and cost outcomes for hospitals. DESIGN: Cross-sectional analysis of multiple data sources including a 2020 survey of nurses linked to patient outcomes data.Setting: 87 acute care hospitals in Illinois. PARTICIPANTS: 210 493 Medicare patients, 65 years and older, who were hospitalised in a study hospital. 1391 registered nurses employed in direct patient care on a medical-surgical unit in a study hospital. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Primary outcomes were 30-day mortality and length of stay. Deaths avoided and cost savings to hospitals were predicted based on results from regression estimates if hospitals were to have staffed at a 4:1 ratio during the study period. Cost savings were computed from reductions in lengths of stay using cost-to-charge ratios. RESULTS: Patient-to-nurse staffing ratios on medical-surgical units ranged from 4.2 to 7.6 (mean=5.4; SD=0.7). After adjusting for hospital and patient characteristics, the odds of 30-day mortality for each patient increased by 16% for each additional patient in the average nurse's workload (95% CI 1.04 to 1.28; p=0.006). The odds of staying in the hospital a day longer at all intervals increased by 5% for each additional patient in the nurse's workload (95% CI 1.00 to 1.09, p=0.041). If study hospitals staffed at a 4:1 ratio during the 1-year study period, more than 1595 deaths would have been avoided and hospitals would have collectively saved over $117 million. CONCLUSIONS: Patient-to-nurse staffing ratios vary considerably across Illinois hospitals. If nurses in Illinois hospital medical-surgical units cared for no more than four patients each, thousands of deaths could be avoided, and patients would experience shorter lengths of stay, resulting in cost-savings for hospitals.

Evaluation of hospital nurse-to-patient staffing ratios and sepsis bundles on patient outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Despite nurses' responsibilities in recognition and treatment of sepsis, little evidence documents whether patient-to-nurse staffing ratios are associated with clinical outcomes for patients with sepsis. METHODS: Using linked data sources from 2017 including MEDPAR patient claims, Hospital Compare, American Hospital Association, and a large survey of nurses, we estimate the effect of hospital patient-to-nurse staffing ratios and adherence to the Early Management Bundle for patients with Severe Sepsis/Septic Shock SEP-1 sepsis bundles on patients' odds of in-hospital and 60-day mortality, readmission, and length of stay. Logistic regression is used to estimate mortality and readmission, while zero-truncated negative binomial models are used for length of stay. RESULTS: Each additional patient per nurse is associated with 12% higher odds of in-hospital mortality, 7% higher odds of 60-day mortality, 7% higher odds of 60-day readmission, and longer lengths of stay, even after accounting for patient and hospital covariates including hospital adherence to SEP-1 bundles. Adherence to SEP-1 bundles is associated with lower in-hospital mortality and shorter lengths of stay; however, the effects are markedly smaller than those observed for staffing. DISCUSSION: Improving hospital nurse staffing over and above implementing sepsis bundles holds promise for significant improvements in sepsis patient outcomes.

Chronic hospital nurse understaffing meets COVID-19: an observational study.

INTRODUCTION: Efforts to enact nurse staffing legislation often lack timely, local evidence about how specific policies could directly impact the public's health. Despite numerous studies indicating better staffing is associated with more favourable patient outcomes, only one US state (California) sets patient-to-nurse staffing standards. To inform staffing legislation actively under consideration in two other US states (New York, Illinois), we sought to determine whether staffing varies across hospitals and the consequences for patient outcomes. Coincidentally, data collection occurred just prior to the COVID-19 outbreak; thus, these data also provide a real-time example of the public health implications of chronic hospital nurse understaffing. METHODS: Survey data from nurses and patients in 254 hospitals in New York and Illinois between December 2019 and February 2020 document associations of nurse staffing with care quality, patient experiences and nurse burnout. RESULTS: Mean staffing in medical-surgical units varied from 3.3 to 9.7 patients per nurse, with the worst mean staffing in New York City. Over half the nurses in both states experienced high burnout. Half gave their hospitals unfavourable safety grades and two-thirds would not definitely recommend their hospitals. One-third of patients rated their hospitals less than excellent and would not definitely recommend it to others. After adjusting for confounding factors, each additional patient per nurse increased odds of nurses and per cent of patients giving unfavourable reports; ORs ranged from 1.15 to 1.52 for nurses on medical-surgical units and from 1.32 to 3.63 for nurses on intensive care units. CONCLUSIONS: Hospital nurses were burned out and working in understaffed conditions in the weeks prior to the first wave of COVID-19 cases, posing risks to the public's health. Such risks could be addressed by safe nurse staffing policies currently under consideration.

How Collaborative Practice Agreements Impede the Administration of Vital Women's Health Services.

INTRODUCTION: Women's health services delivered by nurse practitioners (NP) and certified nurse-midwives (CNM) are safe and effective, often providing a crucial point of access in underserved regions. However, restrictive and unnecessary regulatory requirements, such as collaborative practice agreements, create artificial barriers to practice. METHODS: This analysis used a subsample of respondents from a large national study focused on the common challenges and practice restrictions introduced by collaborative practice agreements. This cohort included respondents licensed in all 22 states that place some level of restriction on one or both roles. This study used univariable and multivariable logistic regression to examine the financial and administrative constraints collaborative practice agreements place on NPs and CNMs. RESULTS: The median fee to establish a collaborative agreement was $500 (n = 25; interquartile range [IQR], $175-$1200; range, $30-$3000). The monthly median fee to maintain a collaborative agreement was $500 (n = 29; IQR, $250-$1200; range, $100-$2000). NPs and CNMs working in rural areas and remotely are more likely to encounter barriers to practice. Similarly, the loss or lack of supervising physicians and fees were also identified as impediments to care. DISCUSSION: Removing unnecessary regulatory requirements permits NPs and CNMs to be full market participants, thereby allowing them to address health care disparities in women's health and primary care settings. Targeted legislative efforts should seek to improve access to these vital services and re-establish evidence-based patient care and safety best practices as the drivers of health care regulation.