M A Y 2 0 1 7 O U T P A T I E N TS U R G E R Y. N E T 9
were compliant with the new
protocols within a month.
Periop 101
We conducted a "back-to-basics" program that coincided with the rollout of our
renewed effort to eliminate surgical site infections. The program, which was
mandatory for all staff members, reviewed the practices that serve as the founda-
tion of infection control efforts, including how to properly wear surgical attire,
the importance of keeping OR foot traffic to a minimum and steps to maintain a
sterile field. We wanted to optimize all of our processes, even the most basic
practices, to give the overall goal of zero infections the best chance of success.
Besides, the staff truly benefited from the remedial review, especially the ones
who left hair exposed under surgical caps, set up sterile supplies in the OR with-
out wearing a scrub jacket to cover their bare arms, walked around with T-shirts
from home hanging out from their scrub tops and wore chandelier earrings into
the OR. We also mandated that visiting vendor reps wear disposable surgical
scrubs they paid for and accessed from an automated dispensing unit installed
in the hospital.
After reeducating staff about proper ways to clean high-touch surfaces in the
OR, we conducted periodic spot checks by applying dabs of fluorescent gel to a
variety of areas. About 20 times a month, after turnaround teams clean rooms
treated with the gel, we shine a black light on the surfaces to find out if they
missed any spots. The results were revealing and hammered home the impor-
tance of diligent manual cleaning. Message received: Compliance with effective
cleaning methods for high-touch items increased from 30% to 80%.
Based on the success of the initial back to basics program, we've decided to
conduct annual in-services to reinforce the importance of what should be
straightforward infection control practices. We've discovered that even the sim-
plest procedures can have a significant impact on infection rates if they're
The rubber meets the road when
staff find out they must spend 15 to
30 extra minutes caring for patients.
