New consensus statement for cardiac cath labs
For the first time, cardiac catheterization laboratory personnel have a document defining best practices, including time-outs, infection prevention, and preprocedure checklists. The statement, from The Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI), issued in March 2012, is the first to represent consensus on the operation of cath labs, the lead…
Updated AORN RPs for laser safety
Updated AORN recommendations on laser safety cover safe practices wherever lasers are used in the health care facility. The recommendations reflect the new ANSI Z136.3 Safe Use of Lasers in Health Care Facilities standard, expected shortly from the Laser Institute of America. AORN's revised "Recommended practices for laser safety in…
CMS updates anesthesia guidelines
An occasional column on accreditation expectations. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on January 14, 2011, issued a Survey and Certification Memorandum revising the interpretive guidelines for anesthesia services. The American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) has been announcing the success of its dialog with CMS and has identified…
AORN RPs generate lively discussion
Proposed revisions to AORN recommended practices (RPs) on surgical attire and prevention of unplanned retained items (formerly counts) generated lively discussion at the AORN Congress in March in Denver—as they are likely to do in ORs across the country. The proposals were open for public comment on the AORN website,…
Are you up to speed on flash sterilization?
Flash sterilization is a fact of life in operating rooms—an item is dropped during a case, a surgeon brings a special instrument that needs to be sterilized, and so on. Professional organizations recommend keeping flash sterilization to a minimum. If it must be done, it must be done properly. The…
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