December 2019 Table of Contents 3 Essential Steps in Endoscope Care Manual cleaning, internal channel inspection and proper drying are necessary to ensure that high-level disinfection occurs. 5 Tips for More Efficient Sterile Processing How one hospital turned its SPD into a shining example of excellence. Behind Closed Doors: The 12 Days of Christmas (OR Edition) You won't find any turtle doves or pear trees here. Business Advisor: Treat Your Patients Like First-class Passengers 5 simple tips from a flight attendant's crash course on patient care. Chronic Pain in the Era of the Opioid Crisis Image-guided interventions like epidural steroid injections, radiofrequency ablation and spinal cord stimulators are in high demand. Do You Need a Robot to Replace Knees? Some orthopedic surgeons say the technology noticeably improves outcomes. Others say it simply makes post-op X-rays look better. Editor's Page: My Double Knee Replacement Saga Is it still considered "outpatient" surgery if you spend a night in the hospital? How We Slashed Our Sharps Injuries Best practices are a must. But replacing emails with conversations and blame with caring is what really made our sharps injuries drop. Ideas That Work: Comfort Measure Family Members Can Grab a Seat Ideas That Work: Constant Contact Touch Base With Patients Every 30 Minutes Ideas That Work: Employee Empowerment Publicize and Promote Staff Ideas Ideas That Work: Fun Facts Matching Game How Well Do You Know Your Staff? Ideas That Work: Staff Appreciation A Day in the Life of Your Colleagues Ideas That Work: Unfriendly Reminder Wasting Meds Is Frowned Upon Ideas That Work: Visual Management Keep Your Case Carts in Line Medical Malpractice: In the OR, You're Most Likely to Be Sued for ... Surgical pros must most often defend negligence and battery lawsuits. Prepped to Perfection How we made proper skin prepping a top priority. Product News Great Ideas for your OR Professional Development: Could Your Surgeons Use a Coach? Peer-to-peer instruction makes physicians better practitioners and people. Readers Reveal Their Patient Warming Preferences Facility leaders agree hypothermia prevention is critical, but differ on how, when and why to do it. Staffing: Knock Tasks Down With the 2-Minute Rule You and your staff can get a lot done in 120-second increments. Standing Up Against Surgical Smoke Perioperative nurses are the driving force behind a growing movement to eliminate perilous plumes in facilities across the country. Thinking of Buying... 4K Camera Systems There's a lot to consider before upgrading your OR imaging systems. Wanted: An Abdominal Robot For Same-Day Surgery Here's an update on the quest for smaller, less expensive robots tailored to outpatient facilities. What's New in Anesthesiology 6 products that can help your providers keep patients comfortable and safe during surgery. Why Fast Past Midnight? Patients who carbo-load before procedures can better handle the physical stress of surgery and recover sooner. Yes, You Can Please Everyone Increase your facility's satisfaction survey scores, one patient at a time. DID YOU SEE THIS?
