thing happens during the course of a case or if they know ahead of
time when an item isn't going to be needed, they'll put the item aside
before it comes into contact with a patient and find a use for it," says
Ms. Opalko. The staff themselves often find creative uses for these
items all in an effort to avoid simply throwing them out. For example,
saline/water bottles become makeshift ice packs, sponges and towels
make great window cleaners, and surgical gowns make great painting
smocks for kids.
"You have to make going green fun," says Ms. Opalko. "People may
look at anything extra as a way to pull them away from the patient
care or add to their workload, but if it's fun, it'll catch on quickly."
OSM
8 8 • O U T PA T I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E • S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 9
• Single-use reprocessing. For the
past year, Lakeside Surgical
Center in Omaha, Neb., has been
on a mission to reduce the medical
waste associated with single-use
devices. The facility has enrolled in
a reprocessing program that offers
plenty of green benefits — both
environmentally and financially —
for reprocessing single-use items.
The company provides Lakeside
with blue bins to collect the
devices, and clear instructions on
what can and can't be reprocessed.
The list of devices Lakeside sends
HONORABLE MENTIONS
Creating an Eco-friendly OR
• SINGLE-USE SOLUTION CST Jason West drops a
single-use instrument into a reprocessing bin at
Lakeside Surgical Center.
Laura
Rowe,
MSN,
RN
