"But it's evident that it's not always a painless process." That's
because surgeons and staff might have disagreements over which
gloves on trial are the best.
Explain the advantages and disadvantages of each glove on trial.
Provide as much education and information as possible; bring vendor
reps in to help with the process. Then let everyone try them on and
give them a spin. Get your OR team's feedback — the most valuable
data points you can use to inform your decision.
"Sometimes you learn a lot just in a short trialing of a glove," says
Mr. Lavanchy. "You might find they don't offer the sizes you were
looking for, or the way that the glove fits isn't right, or a surgeon's
hands get really fatigued when using the glove. All of these things can
be very subtle."
Beyond its clinical worthiness, evaluate the glove's cost-benefit. Use
any leverage you might have with a supplier to negotiate lower prices.
And remember that fewer SSIs will result in better patient outcomes
and satisfaction, which could improve reimbursements and attract
more patients. Shelf life is important, too.
OSM
J U L Y 2 0 1 9 • O U T PA T I E N T S U R G E R Y. N E T • 1 1 1
