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The 2026 Guideline for the Care and Cleaning of Surgical Instruments updates PPE recommendations for periop staff working in the decontamination area, expanding guidance on inspection, transport, and cooling practices to improve staff comfort while staying safe and focused. Amber Wood, MSN, RN, CNOR, CIC, EBP-C, FAPIC, is a senior perioperative practice specialist at AORN, and the guideline’s lead author. Wood says the research is clear: even during routine cleaning, fluids can end up where you least expect them.
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AORN: Periop Today (11/07/25)
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Make plans to join us next spring at the ASCA + SAMBA Conference & Expo, May 13–16 in Washington, DC. New for 2026, the conference will feature SAMBA, the Society for Ambulatory Anesthesia. This exciting collaboration brings together ASC clinical and operational leaders with experts in outpatient anesthesia to offer a richer, more interdisciplinary learning and networking experience for the entire ASC community. Register by December 31 to get the best rate! |
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ASCA Content (11/18/25)
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Procision's AI Powered Patient CommunicationsTraditional patient communication is broken—calls go unanswered, messages get missed, and staff are stretched thin. Discover how AI is closing the gap with smarter, more personal outreach that patients actually respond to.Click here for full article and more details
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On Oct. 31, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services released the final payment rates?for physician services for calendar year?2026.?Top takeaways for GI: Conversion?factor (CF) increases to $33.40 for most physicians: CMS finalized increases to the CF for 2026, reflecting several statutory adjustments.
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American College of Gastroenterology (11/04/25)
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Renew your ASCA membership online today! With your membership comes a variety of benefits that help you run your ASC more efficiently, provide quality patient care, and stay up to date on industry trends and regulations. ASCA membership includes complimentary access to all of ASCA’s virtual education programs and —new in 2026—ASCA’s Clinical & Operational Benchmarking Survey. Not yet a member? Join now!
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ASCA Content (11/18/25)
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When cases require IONM, SpecialtyCare is the partner you can count on. Our nationwide network of expert neurophysiologists ensures reliable coverage for your ASC, even in complex cases. We seamlessly integrate with your surgical teams to provide consistent, expert monitoring—reducing risk, avoiding costly complications, and supporting your surgeons when it matters most.
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American Medical Association CEO and Executive Vice President John Whyte, MD, MPH, today called on physicians, residents, and medical students to take the lead in shaping the rapidly evolving future of medicine with urgency and unity. Dr. Whyte highlighted the recently launched AMA Center for Digital Health and AI and its role in putting physicians at the center of shaping, guiding, and implementing transformative technologies.
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AMA News Release (11/14/25)
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Is it hard to tell if your ASC team is busy saving lives or chasing a signature? With HST’s EMR, e-signatures and task alerts guarantee 100% chart completion and real-time compliance. Every signature, every chart, every time. Plus, staff can chart at the same time on multiple devices in the same chart.Focus on patient care, not paperwork.Book a demo and see how.
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A New Bern eye surgeon who is challenging North Carolina’s laws that cap the kinds of medical services, facilities and equipment that can be offered in geographic regions of the state will take his case back to court this week. Jay Singleton, owner of Singleton Vision Center has been fighting for five and a half years to upend how health care industries have done business in this state for nearly half a century.
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North Carolina Health News (11/17/25) Anne Blythe
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Register for ASCA’s next webinar, “ 2026 Final Payment Rule,” to find out how ASC payment rates will change in 2026 and which procedures are newly eligible to be performed on Medicare patients in the ASC setting. Get the insights your ASC needs now before the changes take effect on January 1, 2026. This webinar is Tuesday, December 2, at 1:00 pm ET, and is included in ASCA’s 2025 Webinar All-Access Pass and 2025 ASCA membership. |
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ASCA Content (11/18/25)
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Millions of chronic pain patients may be forced to turn to opioids or less effective treatments for their conditions, at a time when the opioid epidemic continues to claim the lives of Americans at an alarming rate. A newly proposed Medicare Administrative Contractors policy aims to deny those suffering from chronic pain, coverage and access to peripheral nerve blocks – a minimally invasive and historically effective, non-opioid treatment option for chronic pain.
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American Society of Anesthesiologists (11/12/25)
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The Tennessee Ambulatory Surgery Center Association (TASCA) gave out two scholarships to scrub technician students in the state. Victoria Hines, a student at Baptist Health Sciences University, and Walt Horton, a student at Tennessee College of Applied Technology – Murfreesboro, received the scholarships. Read this ASC Focus article to learn more. |
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ASCA Content (11/18/25)
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Colorectal cancer is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. This study investigates the association between GLP-1 receptor agonists and five-year mortality in patients with primary colon cancer, considering BMI.
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Cancer Investigation (11/11/25) Raphael E. Cuomo
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About ASCAMission: The Ambulatory Surgery Center Association (ASCA) is the national membership association that represents ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) and provides advocacy and resources to assist ASCs in delivering high-quality, cost-effective ambulatory surgery to all the patients they serve. About Us: At ASCA, we are eager to help you become better acquainted with our nation's ASCs and the people who own and operate them. We are also eager to help you develop policies on ASC-related issues. If you have questions, please contact us. We'll put you in touch with the experts and, if you like, arrange for you to visit an ASC in your area. Contact Us: Advertising inquiries should be addressed to Chris Schriever or Alex Yewdell at 202.337.1897 or at advertising@ascassociation.org. Follow ASCA on
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