5 6 S U P P L E M E N T T O 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 C T O B E R 2 0 1 5
ers Outpatient Surgery Magazine polled last month are using safety sharps
some (38%) or all (27%) of the time. So the questions remain: Why don't we use
safety sharps whenever possible for the safety of our staff, surgeons and
patients? Why wasn't I using a device that would have shielded my hands from
exposed needles? We're about to conduct a safety sharps trial at our center.
We've mapped out the keys to what will make the test drive a success.
1. It 's just a trial
You've heard it time and again. Get buy-in and engage your core group of stake-
holders before you try to get folks to change old habits. It's trite, but it's true.
Without a positive presentation, don't expect the support of your surgeons and
staff. Don't blindside your surgeons by showing up unannounced one day with a
handful of safety scalpels for them to trial. They're sure to resist such a strong-
armed tactic. You'll also set yourself up for failure if your goal is to convert sur-
geons. All you're trying to do is to get them to trial the devices. No pressure. No
expectations. Their safety, your safety, everybody's safety is the reason for the
trial.
Set a collaborative and cooperative tone for the trial. You'll stand a better
chance of converting your docs if you empower them to be a part of the deci-
sion-making process. Enlist the help of staff members to promote the safety
devices to surgeons. Ask them to recommend safety devices they've worked
with before. Ask them what scenarios make them nervous: sharps passing, cap-
ping needles, starting IVs?
2. Follow the leader
The person who spearheads your sharps safety trial must swing a big bat in
your facility. She must have the authority to change policy and be looked upon
as a respected leader. That someone is me at my center. It helps that I'm also
our infection preventionist. I run our quarterly infection control committee
meetings, which we hold concurrently with our patient safety meetings. These
