finished, any blue wrap is gathered and placed into large plastic bags.
The bags are offered to staff for craft or home improvement projects
first. "They're great for painting," notes Ms. Witucki.
The hospital's maintenance crew will also grab a few bags, which
are used to cover the ground when they're working. Any leftover bags
are donated to the community — specifically a local animal shelter.
"They use them to clean up puppy messes or to put in birdcages," says
Ms. Witucki.
The hospital also has a unique way to save money and reduce elec-
tricity consumption that involves something usually reserved for
plumbers or servicemen — requiring surgical techs to become certi-
fied boiler operators.
According to Ms. Witucki, the idea came about when the hospital
remodeled its sterile supply department and got a new washer and
autoclave that required its own high-pressure boiler. Instead of
1 0 4
O U T P A T 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 | S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 5
z TEAM EFFORT The team at Lakewood is dedicated
to reducing waste and preserving resources.
Audrey
Witucki,
LPN,
CST
O R E X C E L L E N C E AWA R D S O R E X C E L L E N C E AWA R D S
