As you go through the process to increase sharps safety, you
might find improvements don't occur in a straight line. Don't get
discouraged if sharps injuries jump back up after an initial
decrease. Overall injury rates should continue to decrease over
time if you continue to push safety initiatives and make staff con-
stantly aware of the dangers they face whenever sharps on intro-
duced to the sterile field. By committing to prevention through a
continuous, comprehensive and collaborative safety program,
your staff will be protected from sticks and cuts, and the blood-
borne pathogen infections they can cause.
Ms. Kratochvil was encouraged that the rate of needlestick
injuries in University of Chicago Medicine's ORs dropped by 20%
since she recommended the use a neutral zone during every pro-
cedure. She's also
heard plenty of posi-
tive feedback from a
grateful staff.
"Surgical team mem-
bers say they feel
much safer during
surgery and work
with a greater sense
of ease and confi-
dence," she says.
The hard-working
professionals in your
ORs deserve the same
peace of mind.
OSM
O C T O B E R 2 0 1 9 • O U T PA T I E N T S U R G E R Y. N E T • 2 5
viscotcs@viscot.com • www.viscot.com • 800.221.0658
®
Neutral Zone
Tray
S e e i t i n a c t i o n : w w w. b i t . l y / s o ff z o n e
Autoclavable
can be re-used for hundreds of procedures
