J U N E 2 0 1 8 • O U T PA T I E N T S U R G E R Y. N E T • 7
Using a basic temperature-humidity monitor you can buy in any
office supply store, our maintenance department measures humidity
levels every midnight in our ORs and 2 storerooms, and charts the lev-
els in a log. When state inspectors and accreditation surveyors ask to
see our humidity logs, this is what we show them — and it passes
muster every time.
If the humidity falls out of range, we inform the maintenance
department that the humidity is too high or too low and instruct
them to make the necessary changes to the humidification system in
order to bring the humidity back into the proper range. The midnight
nurse will inform the daytime OR charge nurse of the humidity prob-
lem during the handoff report. The OR charge nurse will inform the
staff of the humidity problem, so that staff can take the necessary
precautions. For example:
• If the humidity is too high, there is an increased risk of moisture
on the instruments and supplies. We'll closely inspect the trays for
watermarks and rips.
• If the humidity is too low, there is an increased risk of static elec-
tricity causing a fire hazard in the OR. We'll take extra time when deal-
ing with flammable liquids and fire ignition sources.
John Olmstead, RN, MBA, FACHE
The Community Hospital
Munster, Ind.
jolmstead@comhs.org
