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O
ur staff members sign questions that they used to open the
OR door to ask. As we all know, the more times an OR door
swings open during surgery, the higher the risk of surgical
site infection. We came up with a simple solution to minimize OR traf-
fic: sign language.
First, we identified the most common questions staff members
asked when they entered ORs for nonessential reasons: Do you need
help? Do you need a break? Are you ready to take lunch? Next, we
trained staff on how to ask the questions using sign language, as you
can see in the photos above. Now they communicate with the surgical
team through windows in OR doors instead of walking through the
doors themselves. Our surgeons are pleased with fewer interruptions.
Cera Salamone, BSN, RN, PHN, CNOR, NE-BC, OCN, HACP
Eisenhower Medical Center
Rancho Mirage, Calif.
csalamone@emc.org
MAnUAL COMMUnICATIOn
Sign Language Limits OR Traffic
Ideas Work
P r a c t i c a l p e a r l s f r o m y o u r c o l l e a g u e s
That
Do you need help? Do you need a break? Are you ready to take lunch?
Eisenhower
Medical
Center
