October 2022

The one- and two-gram IV piggyback infusion bags of the antibiotic cefazolin we were using exclusively in 2018 were almost always on backorder and delivery...

Editor's Page;Wait... What's a Mayo Stand?

Our facility knew the benefits of administering IV acetaminophen preoperatively to reduce post-op pain, but it was always in short supply or cost prohibitive....

Counts Aren't Always Correct; Barcode scanning and RFID detection help to make sure no sponge is left behind.

Help Patients Pay for Surgery; Understanding how healthcare credit cards work will help you select the one that's best for your facility — and those who come to you for care.

There's always the possibility that a patient with an active infection will arrive at your facility for surgery. To prevent SSIs and stop the spread of multi-drug resistant...

A Better Way to Treat BPH; Men with enlarged prostates are seeking out surgeons who offer a minimally invasive solution to their symptoms.

Why continue to carefully cover instrument trays with blue wrap — making even folds, straightening the edges and neatly taping the package shut — when you can...

Going Green for the Greater Good; Surgical tech Veronica Marella's idea to turn blue wrap into sleep mats for the homeless inspired a nationwide movement.

The disposable plastic bags we used to use to transport flexible cystoscopes to and from the sterile processing department cost $1.80 each. Each of our four...

Do some of your staff members seem disengaged or distracted? Is someone suddenly showing up late to meetings and unwilling to share their thoughts and feelings...

I was recruited to work at New York-Presbyterian Queens Hospital and assigned the task of reducing the rate of surgical site infections among colorectal surgery patients....

The heavy use and repeated high-level disinfection flexible endoscopes endure can be problematic. A pinhole in an insertion tube, a drop of moisture collection...

It's not that difficult to learn from your mistakes. All it takes is gathering your nurses and surgical techs for a half-hour meeting every few months to talk about errors...

Over the past few years, a number of employees who work in our health system's outpatient surgery center have become new moms. When they returned...

Amid our nation's opioid crisis, providers are shifting their focus to formulations and methods that make post-op pain more bearable instead of eliminating it completely....

With all the pressure central sterile staff are under to keep cases flowing through high-volume facilities, the last thing you want to do is give them an excuse to avoid...

Don't Sweat Accreditation Surveys; Planning and practice will have you prepared instead of panicked when surveyors come calling.

Healthier Eating Is Within Reach; Patients who optimize their pre-op nutrition are rewarded with better outcomes.

John Hovanesian, MD, an ophthalmologist at Harvard Eye Associates in Laguna Hills, Calif., sends all his cataract patients opened-ended survey questions, asking them...

Looking for a fun and effective way to weigh less? Hold your own "Biggest Loser" competition and award the staff members who shed the most pounds....

The sterile processing department is not an easy place to work. If you want to make sure new sterile processing techs mesh well with the current team and...

Humidity levels in your ORs should be between 30% and 60%, a range that can be difficult to maintain. That's why I had our HVAC company install a computer program...

Behind Closed Doors: Full Moon Fever; I'm convinced Nurse Luna is to blame for odd OR occurrences.

Hillrom says its Welch Allyn Spot Vital Signs 4400 device combines a wide breadth of functionality with time-saving efficiency. The device captures temperature,...