been particular about ensuring
infection prevention practices are
followed, so we were ready for
the new mandates, which include
ensuring all high-touch areas and
surfaces are thoroughly cleaned
between cases.
We use disinfectant wipes to
clean the surface of the stretcher
chair, the blood pressure cuff and
pulse oximetry monitor — any-
thing that could have touched the
patient. Because the patient stays
on a single surface from pre-op to post-op, our nurses don't have to
sanitize surgical tables in both ORs — they simply wipe the stretch-
er chair once at the end of the patient's journey before it's returned
to pre-op for another trip.
We're perhaps a bit more diligent in our surface cleaning practices,
but we've always gone above and beyond with our infection control
practices. Our turnaround times have remained consistent despite
the extra attention given to surface cleaning during the pandemic.
Moving patients through the facility on stretcher chairs isn't the only
reason for that consistency, but it certainly helps.
We're encouraged that our clinic is at 75% capacity for new patient
evaluations. We expect to soon be running at full capacity as we work
during the post-pandemic era. When we are, our stretcher chairs will
be along for the ride.
OSM
J U N E 2 0 2 0 • O U T P A T I E N T S U R G E R Y . N E T • 9 5
REMOTE CONTROL Patients are positioned perfectly for various stages of their care with
just the push of a button.
Victoria
Wiltshire,
MBA,
RN
Ms. Wiltshire (vwiltshire@sighttrust.com) is vice president and chief operat-
ing officer at the SightTrust Eye Institute in Sunrise, Fla.
