Ideas That Work: Relocate Items Accidentally Tossed in the Trash

LOST AND FOUND You can easily retrieve surgical supplies and specimens that staff accidentally throw away by labeling your trash bags with the date, OR number and case number.

Relocate Items Accidentally Tossed in the Trash

If you've ever accidentally thrown specimens, instruments or supplies away, you know that it's nearly impossible to find them after the trash bags leave the OR. To make recovering tossed items easier, we developed a retrieval system called SORT (Search Operating Room Trash). Before the case begins, the OR nurse places custom stickers on each trash, recycling, medical waste and linen bag in the room. She writes the date, the OR number and the case number on the stickers, which you can print at a local office supply store.

After the case, we place the trash bag in a nearby Dumpster and place the linen bags on a linen cart. If we discover that a specimen or tool is missing from a case, we check the Dumpster or cart for bags labeled with that case number. If the Dumpster or linen cart is already removed from the area, we ask our environmental care department to isolate bags tagged from that case so our OR staff can inspect them.

In the first few months, we've recovered 3 items: an orthopedic drill bit, and set edge protector and a family personal belonging. Not only does the system make recovering missing items easier, but it makes our staff more aware of what they're throwing away. The SORT stickers serve as a constant reminder to think about what you're throwing away.

Avic Aquino, RN, BSN, CNOR
Johns Hopkins Hospital
Baltimore, Md.
[email protected]