Outpatient Surgery Magazine

Manager's Guide to Staff & Patient Safety - October 2014

Outpatient Surgery Magazine, providing current information on Surgical Services, Surgical Facility Administration, Outpatient Surgery News and Trends, OR Excellence and more.

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5 4 S U P P L E M E N T T O O U T P AT I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E O N L I N E | O C T O B E R 2 0 1 4 invasive surgery, it's likely that the lights have been dimmed for better video visualization. These conditions set up a heightened risk for fall injuries. The advantages of equipment booms include reducing OR clutter by mounting items on overhead arms instead of floor-occupying carts, cor- ralling cords and cables, and providing centrally located electrical outlets to eliminate the need to stretch power cords to the edges of the room. Wireless devices such as video monitors and foot pedal controls can also cut down on the clutter. Installing booms might not fit into your facility's budget or room dimen- sions. Fortunately, it's not the only option for taming the tangle that tech- nology can bring to the surgical environment. Exposed cords can be bun- dled into a protective cover, reeled into retractable cord holders or simply safely secured to the floor with brightly colored tape. It doesn't cost anything to keep OR walkways and work areas clear and safe for staff to walk through. Start by making sure equipment that's not in use is out of the way. Perhaps it's also time to rethink the placement of hand sanitiz- er dispensers or sharps disposal containers. Are they conveniently located, or do staff members have to cross the room, and cords, to get to them? OSM E-mail dbernard@outpatientsurgery.net . S T A F F S A F E T Y

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