T
he push for smoke-free ORs continues
to gain momentum. Rhode Island
passed a law in June 2018 requiring all
hospitals and freestanding ambulatory surgi-
cal facilities to adopt smoke evacuation sys-
tems in ORs during plume-producing proce-
dures. Last April, Colorado passed a law ban-
ning surgical smoke, and nurses across the
country are wondering how they can lobby
local lawmakers to pass similar legislation in
their states. At OR Excellence, 3 experts in
advocating for mandatory smoke evacuation
legislation will lead a panel discussion on how
to keep building momentum at the grassroots
level for clearing the air in all ORs.
• Shape the message. Talk to your team
about the commonsense importance of rid-
ding ORs of smoke. "It's kind of crazy that we don't expect pilots and
flight attendants, or bartenders and waitresses, to work in a smoky
environment, yet we don't have a problem with the people who are in
2 0 • O U T PA T I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E • J U N E 2 0 1 9
Join the Surgical Smoke
Evacuation Movement
• Jennifer Pennock has
nearly 20 years of experi-
ence working in govern-
ment affairs and lobbying
in the health policy
arena.
• Melony Prince, BSN, RN,
CNOR, is 1 of 12 nurses
to receive the 2019
Nightingale Luminary
Award from the Colorado
Nurses Foundation.
• Janelle Casanave, RN, is
part of the team at
Kaiser Permanente San
Jose that has earned
Gold status from the
AORN Go Clear Program.
Speaker Profile
Jennifer Pennock
AORN | Denver, Colo.
Melony Prince, BSN, RN, CNOR
Littleton (Colo.) Adventist Hospital
Janelle Casanave, RN
Kaiser Permanente | San Jose, Calif.
