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| The Monthly Pulse |
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| Second pig-heart transplant patient at UM faring well
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| The Story |
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| According to a recent update, the recipient of the second-ever pig heart transplant performed at the University of Maryland Medical Center in September is stable and recovering well. The 58-year-old male is breathing on his own and functioning without assistance from supportive devices, and his immune system remains intact despite an ongoing immunosuppressant regimen. |
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| What You Should Know |
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| Last year saw the first pig heart transplant, with the recipient surviving for two months after experiencing bouts of infections. Following this most recent procedure, doctors are administering an investigational antibody as part of the immunosuppressant regimen, which is different from the previous patient’s treatment course. Doctors are hopeful that the patient will be mobilized and released, but note that it’s still too early to predict outcomes.
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| Comparison of central venous catheter thoracic drainage and traditional closed thoracic drainage following minimally invasive surgery for esophageal carcinoma: a retrospective analysis
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| The Story |
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| In a small retrospective study of 103 patients who underwent minimally invasive surgery for esophageal cancer, researchers compared the effectiveness and safety of central venous catheter thoracic drainage (CVCTD) to that of traditional closed thoracic drainage (TCTD). While there were no major differences among the timing of tube removal or complications, there were significant variations in hospital duration, drainage tube healing time, and pain levels.
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| What You Should Know |
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| While small in sample size, the study suggests that CVCTD appears to promote patient mobility, alleviate pain, and offer efficacy comparable to traditional chest tubes. The researchers note that further studies are needed to validate the safety and effectiveness of this technology, but that the approach holds promise and may be considered when clinically indicated.
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| Ohio lawmakers propose minimum nurse-to-patient ratios |
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| The Story |
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| Nurse-to-patient staffing mandates are being increasingly pursued by states across the U.S., with Ohio becoming the latest to propose a legally enforceable minimum staffing standard. Staffing ratios have caught attention at a national level as well, with the Biden administration having expressed interest in the matter. |
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| What You Should Know |
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| When staffing shortages go unaddressed, nurses are more likely to leave, and according to data from PwC, recruitment issues are a significant risk for more than 80% of healthcare executives. Yet, while the proposed mandates aim to ensure units are adequately staffed, opponents such as the American Hospital Association (AHA) assert that they fail to address the root cause of the issue and don’t create more nurses. In fact, the AHA argues that enforcing staffing ratios would introduce added strain to a healthcare system already facing workforce shortages. Despite this pushback, more and more states are calling for such legislation.
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| Leadership Reflections |
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Close to Our Customers, Close to Our Teams
For the last year, I have been participating in a values-based leadership group called Tugboat. A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to attend the Tugboat Fall Exemplar event hosted by Meijer in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
The CEO of Meijer, Rick Keyes, noted that he spends two days a week visiting stores across their multistate geographic footprint. It was a reminder of the importance of staying close to customers and lending a listening ear to the ideas and needs expressed by the people who know us best.
Furthermore, this practice provides an important touchpoint in support of the daily work performed by the Meijer team. Our group participated in a tour of a Meijer store in Grand Rapids, and I was impressed by the engagement and pride that was evident in the daily work experiences shared by the Meijer team.
In the evening, we visited the Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park which embodies Meijer’s purpose, “Enriching Lives in the Communities We Serve.”
I left with three key takeaways from this experience:
- Staying close to your customers creates opportunities to adjust your strategies and service offerings to best meet their needs and exceed their expectations.
- Never underestimate the importance of spending time with your colleagues. Doing so will help create deeply aligned and cohesive teams eager to provide excellent service to your customers.
- Consistently implementing the two takeaways above naturally leads to enriching lives in the communities we serve, just like Meijer strives to do.
As the year winds down and we begin to look ahead, I encourage you to consider: What are some ways you can stay connected to your customers and colleagues?
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60th STS Annual Meeting |
| Sat., Jan. 27 - Mon., Jan 29 |
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| 2024 AANP Health Policy Conference |
| Sun., Jan 28 - Tues., Jan 30 |
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| Innovations in Heart Valve Reconstruction: A Master Class - 8th Annual Advances in Congenital Heart Disease Summit |
| Thurs., Feb 22 - Sat., Feb. 24 |
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| NPAC 2024 |
| Wed., March 20 - Sun., March 24 |
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| The Houston Aortic Symposium: Frontiers in Cardiovascular Diseases, the Sixteenth in the Series |
| Thurs., March 21 - Sat., March 23 |
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