How to improve operating room safety and protect your staff
Healthcare workers demonstrate unwavering dedication to patient safety in the operating room, going the extra mile each day. They also face significant health threats. To get the job done and remain safe, they need top-notch protection. Let’s talk about health and safety threats, and how high-quality PPE is the best defense against them.
Infections. Healthcare-Acquired Infections (HAIs) pose a serious risk in the operating room. On any given day, 1 in 31 patients have an HAI. HAIs are infections that patients and staff acquire while being treated in a medical facility. HAIs can range in type and severity and, if not caught quickly, can lead to sepsis and death. They can include surgical site infections, bloodstream infections, and respiratory infections.
Staff are not immune to HAIs and can play a role in their spread. This creates a lot of additional anxiety in the operating room as surgeons and nurses treat and transport their patients.
There is good news. Properly worn, single-use PPE can act as a barrier against pathogens. Sloan’s STA-DRI garments reduce the risk of transmission. Designed for healthcare professionals by urologist Dr. Stewart Sloan, these garments improve operating room safety for your team.
Airborne & Bloodborne Contaminants. The OR can harbor lots of particulate matter and microorganisms floating around in the air. Various chemicals, including disinfectants, anesthetic gasses, and surgical smoke are additional agents that can negatively impact the health of workers. Another daily threat to manage? The risk of exposure to bloodborne pathogens, such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV. Prolonged or repeated exposure to these substances can lead to respiratory issues, skin irritation, and other long-term health effects.
Adequate ventilation, proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE), and adherence to safe handling procedures minimize these risks. Sloan Medical offers a variety of PPE items to help protect against these hazards. Check out Sloan’s STA-DRI garments and ezGLIDE® Disposable Transfer Sheets.
Cross-Contamination. Did you know that cross-contamination is one of the leading causes of HAIs? It accounts for an estimated 40% of all such infections. Cross-contamination occurs when bacteria or other microorganisms are transferred from one person to another, or from one object to another. This can happen through direct contact, or indirectly through contaminated surfaces or objects.
Take a multi-pronged approach to prevent cross-contamination. One part of your strategy can include relying on Sloan Medical’s protective equipment. Our products use antimicrobial materials to prevent the growth of bacteria and viruses, helping to prevent cross-contamination. We provide products for isolation rooms and other areas where cross-contamination is a concern. Sloan’s ezGLIDE® Disposable Patient Transfer Sheets minimize the spread of pathogens by providing a clean and hygienic surface for patient transfer.
Transit Hubs. Did you know that the radiology department is at high risk for healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), according to the National Institutes of Health? Radiology departments act as a transit hub for patients and healthcare workers, utilizing various equipment including imaging devices, computer systems, and patient transfer equipment. If these items are not adequately cleaned and disinfected between patients, they can serve as reservoirs for bacteria and other microorganisms.
Following infection control protocols is crucial in reducing the spread of HAIs in these environments. This includes practicing improved hand hygiene, properly disinfecting equipment, and using personal protective equipment (PPE) appropriately. Sloan Medical offers single-use patient transfer sheets that are designed to minimize disease spread among patients, unlike traditional transfer boards.
Ergonomic Risks. Operating room staff often perform physically demanding tasks, such as lifting patients, maintaining awkward positions, and operating heavy equipment. These activities can lead to musculoskeletal injuries, including back pain, neck strain, and repetitive strain injuries. Training in body mechanics, ergonomic equipment, and regular breaks can make operating rooms safer for your staff.
Sloan Medical’s ezGLIDE® Disposable Patient Transfer Sheets are disposable and designed to reduce back strain. They also help to minimize disease spread among patients, which is typically a tough order with traditional transfer boards. To compare an ezGLIDE® Disposable Patient Transfer Sheet against the traditional transfer board, request a free sample! This way, you or your staff can compare them firsthand.
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By using high-quality PPE, like Sloan’s STA-DRI, and disposable patient transfer sheets such as Sloan’s ezGLIDE®, healthcare workers can reduce health threat risks. Request your free samples today!
