Courses by Topic

A collaborative effort and trust between OR and SPD staff is paramount to effective instrument care and infection control. Strategies for effective communication between departments and opportunities for improved relationships between OR and SPD staff will be discussed to help promote safe and efficient patient care.

The purpose of this continuing education activity is to provide a review of the clinical considerations regarding the appropriate selection and use of facial protection devices in healthcare practice settings. It provides an overview of the health hazards inherent to the general healthcare and perioperative environment, criteria for appropriate selection and use of facial protection devices, and relevant regulations and recommendations for manufacture and use.

This continuing education activity provides a brief overview of the clinical impact and economic burden of SSIs today. The key characteristics of sterilization wrap materials that help reduce the risk for SSIs, with a focus on nonwoven double layer sterilization wrap, including test data that should be obtained from the manufacturer, will be reviewed.

This ebook reviews sterility assurance with a focus on packaging. It includes a brief overview of the impact of surgical site infections, key criteria for the appropriate selection and use of packaging materials, types of sterilization wraps, and the various professional guidelines for best practices related to packaging.

This ebook discusses foreign debris-initiated post-surgical complications and their associated pathological mechanisms. It reviews the sources of debris contamination, including a description of foreign microbody characteristics that can further amplify pathological responses. Strategies to determine the presence of lint in the OR and recommendations for minimizing their presence are highlighted.

Review the process of normal wound healing, as well as the consequences of delayed healing, and the techniques and products used to promote successful healing. The pathogenesis and consequences of adhesion formation are also explained in this course, followed by a discussion of the methods used to prevent adhesions.

This continuing education activity provides a review of the key considerations for the appropriate selection and use of surgical gowns as an infection prevention measure for both patients and the surgical team. Standards and guidelines pertaining to the selection and use of surgical gowns published by various federal agencies and professional organizations are covered.

OR integration (ORI) systems are designed to simplify and streamline the OR by consolidating data, access to video, and controls for all devices through a central console, allowing perioperative personnel to perform many tasks efficiently, without needing to move around the OR, and while ensuring optimum patient safety.

This continuing education reviews common surgical positioning injuries, high-risk surgical positions, and how team collaboration and communication can help prevent patient harm. Strategies, techniques, and evidence-based guidelines for steep deep Trendelenburg, prone, beach chair, and lateral positions are covered.

The advantages of using an online system for direct access to valuable information about a procedure pack program will be discussed. The five key functions of an online pack management system will be outlined. Best practices for standardization of procedural supplies across an integrated delivery network or individual hospital will be described.

This course will provide an overview of common healthcare-acquired infections and will offer practical information for appropriately following infection prevention practices that healthcare workers can use to protect themselves and the patients they care for.

Review the problem of retained surgical items (RSI), including their economic and clinical implications. Assessing human factors, creating a safety, quality culture and how you, as a leader, can help reduce adverse events such as RSIs is also discussed. Strategies to reduce the incidence of RSIs and promote positive patient outcomes, including the role of adjunct technology, are outlined.

In this educational activity, the role of common AF risk factors and biomarkers prediction of incident AF will be summarized. Current treatment options based on the latest clinical evidence for the management of AF will be discussed, including patient identification, indications for use and risks. Finally, recommendations from leading clinical guidelines will be reviewed.

In this educational activity, the role of common AF risk factors and biomarkers prediction of incident AF will be summarized. Current treatment options based on the latest clinical evidence for the management of AF will be discussed, including patient identification, indications for use and risks. Finally, recommendations from leading clinical guidelines will be reviewed.

There are several therapeutic modalities available today that either use the body’s natural thermoregulatory mechanisms to relieve pain, encourage healing, or enhance the body’s ability to maintain a normal core temperature. Therefore, nurses and other healthcare professionals must remain aware of the use of localized temperature therapy as an effective treatment modality.

Review the basic principles of wound healing, the types of wound drains and drainage systems available, and wound drain system maintenance. You'll learn about standards of care and recommended practices for wound care to aid in infection prevention and positive patient outcomes.

This program will cover the evolution and history of surgical gloves; glove perforations and sharps injuries; the infection risk for the glove wearer and patient; double gloving and glove changing research; best glove practices; and current guidelines and standards of practice for glove changing.

The scope of this education activity will address the physiologic effects of different types of diabetes and the means of controlling diabetes to protect a person from diabetic complications and provide quality of life through treatment support.

This continuing education activity will provide an overview of the clinical considerations related to the use of IUSS using rigid containers. It will provide a brief overview of both the clinical and economic impact of surgical site infections today. The current guidelines and professional recommendations that outline the indications for IUSS and the use of rigid containers will be reviewed.

This continuing education activity is designed to help improve patient outcomes and safety by providing evidence-based practices, and the latest regulatory and scientific information available about sterile processing. You'll explore key steps in the manufacturing process of “premium” grade surgical instruments, clinical considerations used when selecting instruments, as well as the importance of water quality used for processing are discussed.