Page 14
IDEAS
That Work
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GAP DUTY Shannon Welch, CST, (left) and Debora Shirley, purchasing and central sterile manager, put up stock and break down boxes during a break in the action at the Gainesville Surgery Center.
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FILL IN THE GAPS
Turn Downtime Into Productive Time
Turn those unavoidable gaps between surgeries into productive time by giving your staff mini-projects to complete. So-called "gap duties" need to be completed, but they don't have a hard deadline. Gap duties might include:
• put up stock
• break down boxes
• clean bugs out of lamps
• replace light bulbs
• hose down scrub mats
• clean OR boots
• check sharp boxes
• check supplies and meds
for out-dates
• compile charts in the
business office
• audit charts
Andy Whitener, MSPT, MBA
Gainesville (Ga.) Surgery Center
andy.whitener@scasurgery.com