> People are 40 times more likely to be struck by lightening than die of anesthesia-related complications, yet 1 in 4 patients postpone surgery because they fear anesthesia. Article
> In a new lifesaving procedure, New York City paramedics are chilling down cardiac arrest patient by giving them cold IV liquids to lower the brain's demand for oxygen. Article
> Certified registered nurse anesthetists can provide the same level of services as anesthesiologists, but at lower cost, according to Health Affairs. The finding undermines the requirement that nurse anesthetists be supervised by anesthesiologists orsurgeons to receive Medicare reimbursement. Health Affairs Abstract
> The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services issued its final inpatient payment rule for fiscal 2011 on Friday, keeping a 2.9 percent pay reduction for acute care and long-term care hospitals. Article
> Children and youth who experience hunger appear more likely to have health problems, and repeated episodes of hunger may be particularly toxic, according to a report in the August issue of Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine. Abstract
> CMS will add 10 new measures to the Reporting Hospital Quality Data For Annual Payment Update, bringing the total number of measures in the RHQDAPU measure set to 55 for the FY 2012 market basket update. CMS fact sheet
And finally... Here's an environmentally sanctioned reason not to go outside the box... Article