2 • O U T PA T I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E • O C T O B E R 2 0 1 9
Staff & Patient Safety
To Our Readers
Your surgical team probably cares more about guarding patients from harm than they do about looking
out for their own well-being, often focusing on performing safe surgery without worrying about the real
risks they face every time they slip on scrubs. In this year's Manager's Guide to Staff & Patient Safety, we explore ways to protect your selfless
staff from the dangers of smoke, sharps, slips and sterilized instruments, so they can continue to focus on what matters most to them.
Cover design by Ethan Anderson
o u t p a t i e n t s u r g e r y . n e t
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4 Spread the Word About
Surgical Smoke Safety
My evacuation success story could guide
efforts to clear the OR air in your facility.
Andrea Dyer, MSN, RN
12 Focus on the Fundamentals
Of Radiation Safety
Understanding the principles of time, distance
and shielding will limit your team's exposure risks.
Michael J. Bohan, BS
18 5 Ways to Slash Sharps Injuries
Take a proactive approach to protect
surgeons and staff from sticks and cuts.
Outpatient Surgery Editors
26 Are You Ready to Manage MH?
Good planning and plenty of practice will help you
stay calm, cool and collected when stress levels rise.
Dominique Hershberger, MEd, RN, CNOR
35 Leave Nothing Behind
Combining scanning technology with a
meticulous manual count is your best defense
against retained objects.
Jared Bilski | Senior Associate Editor
43 Inside Our Pressure
Injury Prevention Program
It's been 2 years and counting since a patient has
suffered skin-related harm during surgery.
Diane Kimsey, MSN, MHA, RN, CNOR
50 Patient Warming Pitfalls to Avoid
One of surgery's most basic patient safety
practices is riskier than you might think.
Jared Bilski | Senior Associate Editor
57 Who's Looking Out for the Providers?
You owe it to your team to reduce the
risks of slips, trips and back strains.
Daniel Cook | Executive Editor
64 How Safe Is Your
Sterile Processing Department?
Protect your reprocessing
team from these 5 injury risks.
Jared Bilski | Senior Associate Editor
71 Sign the Right Correct Site
It takes plenty of planning and persistence
to ensure surgeons always hit the mark.
Daniel Cook | Executive Editor
77 Operate Where
Everybody Knows Your Name
Q&A with Robert Hackett, MD, anesthesiologist
and inspiration of the #TheatreCapChallenge.
O c t o b e r 2 0 1 9
CONTENTS
