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U T P A T I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E • F E B R U A R Y 2 0 2 1
O
ur facility's break room is very
small, so we've posted a sign
that says only six employees at
a time can gather there during the pan-
demic. Numerous staff members are on
break at once, though, so we spaced
chairs six feet apart in the hallway out-
side my office. The arrangement gives
everyone a place to get off their feet and
rest between cases, although the staff
jokes that they feel like they're sitting
outside the principal's office.
Carmen M. Wilson, RN, BSN, CIC
Proliance Eastside Surgery Center
Kirkland, Wash.
c.wilson@proliancesurgeons.com
HERD IN THE HALL
Social Distancing
Sit-Downs
GRAB A SEAT During the pandemic, Proliance Eastside Surgery employees take breaks outside the director's
office.
Carmen
M.
Wilson
W
e have a multi-step protocol to com-
plete for each knee, hip and shoulder
replacement patient before the day of
surgery. This protocol includes making pre-op
calls to conduct a health assessment, an in-per-
son visit with a nurse to review pre- and post-op
instructions, creating a medication calendar and
scheduling a pre-op physical therapy appoint-
ment. We use a white board to track each
patient's progress before the day of their sur-
gery (ID numbers are used instead of names to
comply with HIPAA). The board allows us to see
the status of all upcoming joint patients at a
glance and helps to ensure we meet each one's
needs before they undergo surgery.
Nancy Peck, RN
Pend Oreille Surgery Center
Ponderay, Idaho
nancy@poscllc.com
PRE-OP PREP
White Board Keeps Cases on Track
LINE ITEMS The process ensures all pre-op steps have been taken, so patients feel
well-prepared and less anxious before their joint replacements.
Nancy
Peck
Ideas Work
That