the OR, you risk dispersing the clipped
hair — which could contain microbial
contaminants — into the air.
"We would like to change our process of
hair clipping in the OR to have it take
place in the pre-op area to decrease loose
hair in the OR," says one manager. "We
are finding this to be challenging to
change this culture with surgeons."
A small percentage (2%) of survey
respondents instruct their patients to
remove hair at home — another practice
that's advised against. Only 29% of man-
agers say they tell patients not to shave
before surgery — something AORN rec-
ommends including in your pre-op instruc-
tions — though some note patients still
ignore the warning.
"Even though we inform the patients not
to perform personal hair removal, some
do, especially women who are having
knee arthroscopy," says Emily Duncan,
RN, BS, CASC, CNOR, CEO of Lakeland
Surgical & Diagnostic Center in Lakefield,
Fla. "They come in with shaved legs."
3. How do you remove hair?
Evidence strongly shows that using razors
can increase infections as the razor nicks
7 2
O U T P A T 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 5
HAIR REMOVAL BASICS
5 Keys to
Remember
The Institute for Healthcare
Improvement
(osmag.net/4NDgMh) spells out a
few key points to remember for a
successful hair removal policy:
1. Avoid hair removal unless it's
necessary for the procedure.
2. When necessary, remove hair
with clippers right before sur-
gery — but not in the operating
room itself.
3. Remove all razors from the oper-
ating room and supply area.
4. Establish protocol for when and
how to remove hair in affected
areas.
5. Provide patient education and
materials on appropriate hair
removal techniques to prevent
shaving at home.
— Kendal Gapinski
z STOP SHAVING Toss out any
razors
still hanging around
your
facility.
