the remote, returning the patient to Semi-Fowler's to relax and recov-
er. The patient can also use the remote to make slight adjustments to
the chair's position to add to their comfort. In pre-op and PACU, staff
can lower the chair and slide-away arm guards make it easier for the
patient to sit down and stand up.
We've placed marks on the floor in each OR, so we know exactly
where to place the chair's wheels to ensure the patient in aligned
properly for the procedure. The preset positions and the marks on the
floor have streamlined the patient prep process. We know the chair
and patient are perfectly positioned for the surgeon every time he
enters the room.
Now more than ever
Our ORs have recently reopened after being shut down during the
coronavirus outbreak and our surgeon is working through a back-
log of cancelled cases. The surgeons primarily perform bilateral
cataract surgery, meaning patients enter our facility only once to
have their full vision restored and are therefore at less risk of trans-
mission and infection. Stretcher chairs let us move patients through
the facility with utmost efficiency, meaning they're in our facility
for the least amount of time possible and back with their loved
ones quickly. These are all clear benefits during the this new
COVID-19 reality.
We're reducing unnecessary contact as much as possible and requir-
ing that patients and family members wear masks when in the facility.
We've also stopped letting family members watch the femtosecond
laser portion of the procedure from a special viewing area adjacent to
the first OR.
The Florida Department of Health's reopening protocols made us
take a second look at our infection control practices. We've always
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