Outpatient Surgery Magazine

OR Excellence Awards 2015 - September 2015 - Subscribe to Outpatient Surgery Magazine

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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inserts and IFUs from boxed supplies, old preference cards, cardstock from DART (Daily Air Removal Test) tests and biological tests, and used count sheets," she says. Finding creative solutions While reprocessing and recycling are common-sense solutions to help a facility go green, Lakewood has also found a couple of creative ways to limit its footprint on the environment. For example, the hospital has a few tricks to tackle blue sterilization wrap. First, says Ms. Witucki, the hospital limited its use of the dispos- able wrap by purchasing casket-style sterilization containers, which now house about 90% of the surgery department's trays. But for the blue wrap that is still around, Lakewood has found a way to use it to their staff and community's advantage. After a case is 1 0 3 S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 5 | O U T P A T I E N T S U R G E R Y . N E T TRIA also screenprints unique designs on the "green" shirts using eco-friendly ink. The T-shirts are a source of pride for staff, says Ms. Groven. "They've become a bit of a collec- tor's item since they're different every year," she says. This year the green committee also held a special "Green Fair" on Earth Day. The event was open to patients and staff and featured organizations like a local bike-sharing com- pany and a local farmers market. Green committee members also handed out bike maps and bus routes to visitors, and even had a bike on display to test out. Participants at the Green Fair were also encouraged to bring their old tennis shoes, which were then donated to Nike's Reuse-A-Shoe program. Every person who donated was entered into a raffle to win tickets to a "Dinner on the Farm" gala, which is a local event where participants get a tour of a farm, learn about sustainability and are served dinner using food from the farm. Overall, the committee ended up collecting more than 120 pairs of shoes, says Ms. Groven. "We're open to any and all ideas that let us give back and make things green in the community and in our center," she says. — Kendal Gapinski

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