PRODUCT & SERVICE LINE REPORTS 2022 OR BUYERS GUIDE
Optimizing operations in the OR
Providers look to hit reset button to 2019 by Erin Brady
Photo credit: romaset |
stock.adobe.com S
ince the start of the pandemic more than two years ago, health systems have had to quickly think of time saving ways to operate more effectively. This is especially true in the operating room (OR) where time is never a luxury for staff members. Hospitals continue to postpone surger-
ies due to hospital beds being needed for COVID patients. The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that elec- tive surgeries are still disrupted in 59% of the world’s countries.1 COVID is still a fi nancial burden to hos-
pitals, accounting for hospital expenses to be up 10.6% on a per-adjusted discharge basis. In addition, healthcare workers are experiencing higher rates of burnout due to long hours and heavy workloads. “This issue has contributed to the rise in labor and other expenses as a result of low staff morale leading to high turnover rates and additional expenses associated with security measures and training.”2 Patient safety has always been and will
continue to be a priority for healthcare workers. With the lingering COVID-19 pandemic still on the rise, health systems have had to reevaluate their safety tactics for both patients and staff. Healthcare Purchasing News spoke with
a number of healthcare professionals and supply/solutions providers about time management challenges and what O staff could do to help with workfl ow effi ciencies.
Time management Kim Haines, BSN, RN, Cer t i f ied OR Nurse, Lean Certified Clinical P rog r am Di r e c t or, Perioperative Services Medl ine Indust r ies, says staffing restraints imposed by the pandemic have driven greater interest in O effi - ciency improvements from a logistical and supply fl ow perspective. “Bui lding procedural efficiencies
Kim Haines
through surgical packs to minimize the need to pull supplies improves workfl ow for supply chains, SPD, and OR staff when time is more critical than ever,” said Haines. “Now is the time to look at the activities staff members spend the majority of their day doing and determine if there are better, faster or more effi cient ways to focus on critical functions that enhance throughput and revenue and less on non-value-added time chasing and managing base supplies,” she said. “We’ve seen success everywhere – espe-
cially surgical staff working outside of the OR to support the needs of other units as the pandemic’s wrath shut down elective surgeries,” she continued. “Supply Chains are working together to shift inventory and labor to accommodate the fl uctuations of demand. Clinical staff are adapting and using product alternatives or substitutions that they hadn’t used before, reducing waste supply and only using what is
16 March 2022 • HEALTHCARE PURCHASING NEWS •
hpnonline.com
needed to minimize supply shortages. The pandemic stressed our supply fl ows, but the OR remained resilient.” COVID-19 has caused hospital staff to
be more conscious than ever about cross contami- nation. Christian Baker, Senior Product Manager, ORMI AliMed, says dis- posable products have gained popularity due to the pandemic from both an infection prevention and workflow effi ciency perspective. “We have seen customers use more
Christian Baker
single-patient-use items to decrease turnover times. AliMed has a full line of single-patient-use foam positioners and disposable straps to not only provide faster cleanup but help reduce cross- contamination between procedures,” he noted. Reducing OR turnover time in between
patient cases is another way healthcare facilities can build effi ciencies into the perioperative space. Diversey developed its TurboTurn OR turnover program to help improve results and employee safety while increasing productivity with specially designed products, procedures and equipment for cleaning operating room areas. “Our mission has been to design a total
cleaning solution that integrates products, tools and equipment to optimize results as effi ciently as possible,” said Larinda
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