5. Be consistent
The goal is to make compliance routine, which requires constant rein-
forcement of your facility's prepping practices. Provide reminders of
proper prep application methods and constantly educate and train the
surgical team about accepted practices. Eventually, following stan-
dardized practices will become second nature.
We also audit proper prepping techniques — donning of the pink
gown, staff hand hygiene practices and confirmation of the prep appli-
cation during time outs initiated by the surgeon — and clinical leaders
randomly pop into ORs to observe prepping in action. We've found
that periodic audits keep staff focused on constantly striving to apply
preps properly and the same way every time.
OSM
1 4 • O U T PA T I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E • M A y 2 0 1 8
Ms. Harvey (harveybri@wvumedicine.org) is the director of clinical services at
WVU Medicine in Morgantown, W.Va.