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/329643
1 3 6 O U T P AT I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E O N L I N E | J U N E 2 0 1 4 systems will play a key role," she says. 3. Fluid waste management Direct-to-drain fluid waste management involves collecting runoff in a system's closed rover unit, which is then transported to a docking station, where the fluid is automatically offloaded into the waste drain. Automating fluid management in your ORs keeps the rooms cleaner, letting the surgical team focus more on patient care, and helps them track how much irrigation fluid is going into the joint and how much is flowing out. Ms. Bush's surgical team uses direct-to-drain systems during orthopedic and GYN procedures. It's a far cry from her days as a new OR nurse, when towels were used to sop up excess runoff. "Irrigation fluid would leak all over the drapes and spill onto the floor," she says. "It was a slipping hazard, you didn't want it to run into electrical cords and you certainly didn't want to come into con- tact with it." Her staff never touches fluid waste, and doesn't have to lug filled disposable containers to the hopper, a physically demanding task that increases the possibility of back injuries and being splashed with contaminants. There's no doubt direct-to-drain sys- tems are easier and safer for staff to use, which also translates into faster room turnovers. Says Ms. Bush, "The facilities that use the systems see clear bene- fits, from improved safety to staff satisfaction." OSM E-mail dcook @outpa tientsurg ery.net . S T A F F S A T I S F A C T I O N Your Colleagues Are Talking About OR Excellence "Best conference ever!" —Taryn Harris, RN, Director, Southwest Medical Associates Surgery Center, Las Vegas, Nev. "By far my favorite." —Tammy Luther, BSN, MSSL, Manager, Caromont Health, Gastonia, N.C. "So many great ideas!" —Kari Stewart, CASC, Administrator, Pasadena Plastic Surgery Center, Pasadena, Calif. "Worth every penny!" —Teresa Heatwole, RN, Director of Nursing, Riverside Park Surgicenter, Jacksonville, Fla. "The speakers were exceptional!" —Shirley Torwirt, MHS, CASC, Administrator, Cypress Surgery Center, Wichita, Kan. Join us in New Orleans, Oct. 1-17, 2014 www.orexcellence.com "At least one take-away from every session." —Linda Szafranski, Director of Patient Care Services, McLaren Bay Region Health, Saginaw, Mich. "I met so many kind, intelligent, happy folks. " —Christy Lee, RN, Manager, Surgical Services, University of Missouri Health Care Medical Center "Can't wait until next year!" —Steve Wentworth, System Director, Surgical Services, St. Vincent's Health Care, Jacksonville, Fla. OSE_1406_part2_Layout 1 6/13/14 11:42 AM Page 136