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for their feedback on the spot — both what they liked and what they didn't like.
We'll also ask staff for their impressions. How easy was it to load a blade on the
handle? What extra steps did you have to take with this handle, versus our regular
blade handle?
The goal is zero
What obstacles do I expect? What if not all surgeons buy in? What if there's a tie,
half like the product, but half don't? If there are only a few outliers, I intend to go
with what the group has chosen. I also plan to call on the product rep if need be.
And if the trial doesn't yield a winner, I'm already on the lookout for new products
to trial.
In the past 5 years, we've had 3 reported sharps injuries at our center. That's 3
too many. Simple, small injuries, but potentially devastating. In one, a reprocess-
ing tech got a tiny needlestick while he was cleaning up a tray. Somebody forget
to take a needle off of the table, and it got caught up in the instruments. My goal is
to have zero sticks. We want to provide the safest instruments to our staff so that
they don't have to worry about a sharps injury.
If we were to convert our facility to 100% sharps safety products, we'll spend an
additional $30,000 per year in supplies. If we were to adopt just the safety blade han-
dle and sharps collection basin, we'll spend about $15,000 more per year. This addi-
tional cost is well worth it if it prevents just one needlestick or sharps injury.
OSM
Ms. Thompson (kthompson@nueterra.org) is the
director of nursing at Riddle Surgical Center in Media, Pa.
