the staff, but the doctors were hitting the lounge, too," says Ms. Dean.
"There was a habit, a routine, for grabbing a cup of coffee or a snack
between cases. Breaks need to be scheduled."
Sometimes, you simply need to invest in staffing. An additional person
or two can make the turnover process more efficient. If you have an
extra RN and a tech, they can relieve other staff members on break and
help turn over cases. The extra tech can also alternate cases with others
so turnover times aren't being held up for washing and processing of
instruments.
"The ability to schedule more cases more than makes up for the
increased budget for salaries," says Ms. Dean.
6. Promote a team concept
Nobody on the team is more important than anyone else.
Housekeepers are as essential as circulators.
"A housekeeper can help prevent infections. A housekeeper can do a
whole lot of things that can help with turnover time, general efficiency
and patient safety," says Ms. Dean. "Doctors can grab a mop and help
turn the room, not because they're trying to make anybody look like
they're not hurrying, but because we all have the same goal in mind."
There shouldn't be any "this isn't my job" mentality among your
team members, according to Ms. Dean. "If a floor needs to be mopped,
somebody can grab a mop. Everybody pitches in to do everything."
Teamwork is an essential component to cleaning rooms efficiently,
effectively and quickly, without sacrificing the most important thing —
patient safety.
"Everybody has to be on board. If I have a room down, then it's all
hands-on deck to get to that room and help the crew turn it over," says
Ms. Norman.
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