tioned every time, and staff weren't tripping over
something because it was set up a bit differently."
For Ms. Brunson, that setup included strategical-
ly positioning all of the equipment at the bottom of
the bed with all the cords veering off in the same
direction — ideally an area where the staff traffic is
going to be limited.
There are several safety benefits to the newer
integrated systems, including slip-and-trip protec-
tion. "The equipment is all hanging from booms that
can be plugged into directly," says Ms. Brunson.
"This can limit or even eliminate the cords that you
plug into the wall and have all over your OR floor."
On top of the cord reduction, the booms also
reduce the equipment you need to bring into the
OR, making it easier for staff to move freely during
cases, she adds.
Even the most meticulously organized and
obstacle-free OR leaves staff vulnerable to slips
on slick floors. Whether it's from a generous mop-
ping between cases or an overflow of irrigants or
bodily fluids during an arthroscopy case, fluids are
often an issue in the OR. The amount of fluid pro-
duced during notoriously sloppy orthopedic cases
is highly variable, depending on the procedure or
surgeon involved.
"We have some surgeons who irrigate joints
with just one liter during knee and shoulder proce-
dures, and another surgeon who uses 30 liters,"
says Mr. Taylor.
There are a variety of systems that keep floors
dry, from mobile units that collect large volumes
of runoff directly from the surgical site to floor-
based wicking systems, but high-tech can't replace
high-touch in this area. Regardless of whether
you're using the latest mobile fluid-collection
devices or simply throwing towels or blankets on
the floor, a key component of preventing slips in
the OR will always center around an alert and
team-centered staff.
"Preventing slips is all about awareness," says
Mr. Taylor. "It's everyone's job to be aware and look
out for each other. If there's irrigation runoff on the
floor, someone needs to call that out to ensure
everyone is aware before cleaning it up."
Cords stretched across floors in high-traffic
areas create tripping hazards, and recent regulato-
ry changes have increased the challenge of cord
management in the OR. "New Joint Commission
regulations require cords to be plugged into a wall
instead of a power strip or an extension cord,"
says Ms. Brunson.
That said, there are still plenty of simple and
painless ways to keep cords out of your staff's
way. Mr. Taylor organizes equipment cords at the
heads of the OR beds, where staff know to look
