needed supplies.
Keeping needed supplies on
hand has become a full-time job
for materials managers and clini-
cal directors. PPE supply levels
are returning to pre-pandemic
levels, but syringes and needles
are now in short supply because of the vaccine
rollout. You must think outside the box and plan
ahead to make sure your team has what they need.
The pandemic has likely provided you with the
experience, creativity and ingenuity to make that
happen. It's also forced neighboring facilities to
help each other maintain adequate par levels, and I
hope that willingness to collaborate continues.
Preventing the spread
During aerosol-generating procedures, we position
the head of the bed away from the door to limit the
number of airborne pathogens that leave the room.
We also added clear plastic drapes to separate the
anesthesia provider and the anesthesia machine
from the surgical field, and hung signage on OR
doors to restrict traffic into and out of the rooms.
During upper endoscopy procedures, an aerosol-
generating procedure, we employ special oxygen
masks with openings for the scope to pass through
while aerosols are contained.
We also use a mobile high-efficiency particulate
air (HEPA) filtration system designed to remove
extraoral airborne particulates near the patient. The
unit can be moved to different rooms for use during
aerosol-generating procedures. There's not a lot of
M A R C H 2 0 2 1 • O U T P A T I E N T S U R G E R Y . N E T • 4
9
IntuBarrier™
m a x i m u m p r o t e c t i o n a g a i n s t
a i r b o r n e c o n t a m i n a n t s
Video Demo:
www.bit.ly/intubarrier
viscotcs@viscot.com • 800.221.0658
www.viscot.com
Video laryngoscopes maintain a
safe distance between the
anesthesia provider and patient.
