Course to Reduce OR Errors

Seems pretty basic…OR lights should be ON. As with many things in the medical arena, however, there is more to it than that. Invuity, Inc., in partnership with Pfiedler Enterprises, will commence a continuing education (CE) course to educate perioperative nurses about the importance of safe illumination, improved visualization and the advantages of non-conductive instrumentation during minimally invasive and minimal access surgery.

According to the April 4, 2016 media advisory, “attendees will learn how advanced photonics technology and non-conductive instrumentation deliver safety advantages for the surgeon, patient and facility across multiple surgical specialties by:

• Helping avoid preventable errors and “never events;”
• Reducing potential sources of operating room contamination by minimizing overhead and headlight adjustments;
• Reducing fatigue, supporting increased surgical productivity and longevity.”

The course, which launched at the recent Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN), will continue to be available to perioperative personnel as a one hour, one CE credit activity.

Diane Amaral, BSN RN, CNOR, is Clinical Line Manager, Operating Room Gynecology, Urology, and Robotics at Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian in Newport Beach, California. Amaral told OTW, “Ensuring operating room (OR) safety is imperative before the patient even enters the room. When preparing the OR and directly assisting the surgeon, OR nurses navigate several patient safety risks: insufficient visualization of the surgical cavity, potential contamination sources and burn injury [to the patient and themselves]. Learning about proper illumination and visualization during surgery can be a career refresher for nurses—and help the OR staff do our jobs more safely and efficiently.”