Brian R. Matlaga, MD, MPH

"This work is important to our field, because it represents an effort to personalize treatment approaches to particular patients’ needs," writes Brian R. Matlaga, MD, MPH.

"The concept of 'surgical quality' is emerging as an important component of health care delivery. At present, though, there is no universally accepted definition of what surgical quality is; indeed, this term may mean different things to different physicians, patients, and others," writes Brian R. Matlaga, MD, MPH.

A recent study "revealed that inadequate pain control, presence of a ureteral stent, and a first-time stone treatment were the most common reasons for unplanned utilization of health care services [following ureteroscopy]," writes Brian R. Matlaga, MD, MPH.

"Increasingly, urologists are faced with patients who cannot safely discontinue anticoagulation or antiplatelet medications, even in the face of an impending surgical procedure. This is a trend that is likely to continue into the foreseeable future," writes Brian R. Matlaga, MD, MPH.