smoke. How a facility decides to implement the policy and what equip-
ment a facility uses is entirely up to the facility, says Ms. Pennock.
"We are finding health committees and legislators are most supportive
when they know a bill will accomplish the goal — protecting healthcare
workers from surgical smoke exposure — while allowing healthcare
facilities the freedom they need to evacuate smoke with their preferred
equipment," she says.
AORN's government affairs team recently created a Surgical Smoke
Evacuation Legislation Checklist for surgical team members looking
to mirror the Rhode Island and Colorado successes in their respective
states. The goal of the checklist is to give AORN members and staff
key steps they can take to lay the groundwork for successful legisla-
tive advocacy. Passing legislation is often a multi-year effort which
begins with educating OR staff, legislators, state regulators and facili-
ty leadership. Successful legislative efforts also require strong rela-
tionships with stakeholder groups such as state hospital and ASC
associations. For example, in Colorado, nurses were able to move the
Colorado Hospital Association from opposed to supportive by work-
ing collaboratively to address hospital association concerns in the bill
between legislative sessions.
AORN is looking to connect with advocates in multiple states to lay
the groundwork for similar initiatives in 2020. "We've heard from
members in more than half of the remaining states say that they want
this legislation, and they will do whatever they can to help AORN pass
surgical smoke evacuation legislation across the country. As we work
together to lay the foundation for legislative success, we are excited
about the opportunities that lie ahead," says Ms. Pennock.
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