Outpatient Surgery Magazine, providing current information on Surgical Services, Surgical Facility Administration, Outpatient Surgery News and Trends, OR Excellence and more.
Issue link: http://outpatientsurgery.uberflip.com/i/124399
F L U I D W A S T E M A N A G E M E N T case volume, broken down into 1 full day exploration — produces high volumes of late how much spills over the drapes and tect themselves from fluid splash — those of cases and 3 partially scheduled days a fluid runoff. We, for example, typically go (potentially) onto the floor. are the ultimate benefits to using a direct- week. Any kind of arthroscopic procedure through 2 or 3 3,000ml bags of fluid per — whether performed on the knee or case. Surgeons can control the flow of surgical team must manage fluid waste — shoulder, a large repair or small diagnostic fluid into a joint, but obviously can't regu- lots of it. And properly managing fluid excess fluid, but no matter how effective overflow is paramount to staff safety (limit- the technology, some runoff will still make ing slip risks), satisfaction (Do they have to it to the floor. That's why a multi-level lug filled containers to a hopper for dispos- approach to managing fluid waste is best: al?) and your infection control efforts (Are During shoulder scopes, for example, we they exposed to contaminated fluids during use a floor aspirator to capture fluid that disposal or are those risks eliminated with trickles off the drapes. An effective direct- use of a direct-to-drain system?). to-drain unit has multiple ports, giving PAY FOR PERFORMANCE Direct-to-drain units will capture most docking stations must be Does Direct-to-Drain Save You Money? to-drain system. What's that mean in practical terms? Our retrofitted to your facility's plumbing. (We were planning on getting 3 new rovers and a docking station at a cost of $100,000 before the Stryker recall squelched those staff the ability to attach tubing from sev- Direct-to-drain units are a very sophistiplans.) cated and very clean way to handle fluid eral fluid-collection spots or devices — waste. Fluid overflow is collected in a such as our floor aspirators — without los- rover unit for transport to a docking sta- ing suction when more than 1 port's in use. But the value-added beneADDED VALUE Consider the benefits of turning over ortho rooms quickly and easily before balking at direct-to-drain's start-up costs. W fits you'll realize with direct-todrain technology are worth the tion, where fluid is automatically flushed significant investment. Staff into your waste stream. Although staff is Recall red tape disposing of contaminants, they never My staff was understandably miffed by the come in contact with the harmful waste. Stryker recall. "We know how to properly Our units are very mobile and very user- use this device and have for years," they'd friendly thanks to an intuitive design. They say. "Why are we doing this?" They believe accommodate large volumes of fluid, so we're taking the brunt of a mistake that, you don't necessarily have to empty them ill you realize cost savings by quite frankly, is very unlikely to happen. can turn over rooms after fluid-heavy cases more investing in direct-to-drain techefficiently — most surgery centers using these nology instead of placing solididevices can flip ortho arthroscopy rooms in less fied fluid in red bag waste? I'm not so sure. As than 10 minutes — and aren't at risk of back with any technology, there are disadvantages to injuries from carrying heavy fluid-filled containers overcome in order to enjoy the many advanor exposure to contaminated waste. You also tages. might find that ortho docs are beginning to expect between cases. That staff no longer have In the case of direct-to-drain fluid manage- You can continue to use recalled units if these devices in their ORs, so direct-to-drain units to worry about coming in contact with ment, you're paying a significant upfront cost at least 1 person from your staff completes fluid during disposal and don't have to a webinar on the proper use of the devices wear double gloves or a face shield to pro- and takes a test to demonstrate they have also evolved into physician satisfiers. for improved efficiencies and protecting staff — Sandy Berreth, RN, BS, MS, CASC from contaminated waste. Plus, the device's 3 3 SUPPLEMENT TO O U T PAT I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E | M AY 2013 M AY 2013 | S U P P L E M E N T TO O U T PAT I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E 3 4