Safer Surgery: The preoperative testing process
Ten elements of safer surgery. The third in a series, this article focuses on presurgical evaluation. Making sure patients have the appropriate preoperative preparation, including testing, is necessary not only for patients’ safe care but also for a smooth process on the day of surgery. Advocate Health Care, a…
Why are there so many unneeded preop tests?
What preoperative tests does your facility require for a healthy 40-year-old having a knee arthroscopy? What about a healthy 82-year-old having an elective procedure? Do these patients need testing at all? A good deal of testing is performed without clinical indications, studies have found. Researchers at the University of Texas…
Synergies are flowing from combined ST, CS role
A float position that combines the duties of a surgical technologist (ST) and a central service (CS) technician creates closer ties between the OR and CS departments and improved morale in CS for a 400-bed community hospital. “These have been independent workforces, but they are highly related,” says Brian Whorley,…
Have you taken steps to avoid the abuse of IUSS?
I have heard the following statement from OR personnel: “We use rigid sterilization containers and run a 270-275ºF (132-135ºC) prevacuum steam sterilization process in our OR. So we no longer use IUSS.” Is that an IUSS cycle? IUSS, or immediate-use steam sterilization, was formerly known as flash sterilization. This article…
ASCs jump on the surgical checklist bandwagon
Since the early days of aviation, pilots have used checklists before, during, and after each flight. Cooks follow recipes. Builders don’t build without team meetings and signoffs at every step. Health care professionals, however, only recently began to adopt checklists. Often, the excuse has been that medicine is an art,…
Safer surgery: Is your scheduling process as accurate is it could be?
Ten elements of safer surgery. Second in a series. Much of the effort to ensure correct-site surgery focuses on preoperative verification. But scheduling is where it all begins. Capturing complete and accurate information when the case is booked is key to preventing errors down the line. Scheduling flaws are…
'Destination surgery': Metrics drive patients to centers with better care
Perioperative managers and staffs are collecting data on a growing list of metrics on surgical quality—antibiotic prophylaxis, venous thromboembolism prevention, normothermia, and more. Now these and other metrics are coming into play as big companies like Walmart, Lowe’s, and Pepsico seek the best value for their insured employees, especially those…
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