Attendees at the annual OR Manager Conference have enjoyed the opportunity to ask experienced OR leaders questions about difficult managerial and clinical issues. The popularity of these “Ask Me Anything” sessions reflects the hunger for knowledge about how things are handled in ORs around the country, and they will be…

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Contaminated surgical instruments made ECRI Institute’s 2019 annual top 10 list of health technology hazards, coming in at number five: “Mishandling flexible endoscopes after disinfection can lead to patient infections.” Number two on the list in 2018 was “Endoscope reprocessing failures continue to expose patients to infection risk.” It’s not…

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Several never events at The Medical Center of Aurora (TMCA) in Aurora, Colorado, over a 1-year period prompted leaders there to launch patient safety first (PSF) initiatives. Part 1 of this series discussed how these initiatives were identified and implemented, and the importance of evidence-based communication tools (OR Manager, March…

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Solid teamwork and a commitment to high-quality patient care are the hallmarks of a successful healthcare facility. But egos sometimes get in the way, and competition among surgeons in the orthopedic service line at St Louis-based SSM Health Care was impeding progress. The surgeons were affiliated with three independent groups,…

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Reducing preventable complications is a high priority, especially in light of readmission penalties. A recent data analysis by Premier, Inc, has identified 86 high-impact potential inpatient complications (PICs) associated with increased inpatient mortality, costs, and length of stay (LOS). In their study of 530 inpatient facilities, Premier, a healthcare performance…

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Surgical infection rates are dropping to zero, mammography results now arrive in minutes rather than weeks, and patient satisfaction surveys actually reflect patients’ interpretations of their experiences. This new world has arrived in some innovative locations, and it is poised to spread. The Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC)…

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A kanban system seems like a logical method for managing surgical supplies. But it needs a strong foundation to be successful. Kanban, a Lean manufacturing method, relies on visual signals and standard work (related articles). The idea is to be able to tell at a glance that you have what…

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Opening a new hospital gave a New York health system an opportunity to take a fresh approach to the OR supply chain. The 483-bed Orange Regional Medical Center, with 12 ORs, opened in 2011, consolidates surgical volume from 2 smaller hospitals. The Orange Regional Medical Center is part of the…

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If you opened a supply cabinet in one of your ORs, what would you find? For many, the answer might be, “a mess.” That was the situation for Martin Memorial Health Systems, Stuart, Florida. Even though the supply cabinets had par levels, when a supply was running low, clinicians would…

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Stock-outs were the “burning platform” that caused staff and managers to jump into a 2-year project to overhaul a 22-room OR’s supply management. The previous “system” had been a dissatisfier for OR clinicians and supply staff. Supplies in the OR storeroom weren’t kept in any order. Reordering was hit or…

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