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OR Safety Task Force blog

Thoughts on how we can create a culture of safety in the OR and promote safety among all OR team members.

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MA Dept. of Health Reports on Sharps Injuries in 2005

Every year, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health releases a report with a thorough examination of sharp injuries for hospital workers in a given year.  The report is comprehensive, totaling the numer of sharps injuries, who sustained them, in what context, and what type of device caused the injury.

This week, they released the full finding from the Massachusetts Sharps Injury Surveillance System for 2005.  Some of the highlings include:
      • A total of 3,265 reported 1sharps injuries occurred in 2005, with 86% of injuries sustained by hospital workers
      • Nurses sustained 36% of the injuries (1,188) and physicians sustained 35% (1,135)
      • Of injuries to physicians, half of those occurred to interns and residents
      • In 41% of cases, the incident occurred during use of the device, but 45% of the time during the more dangerous time after use of the device.

 

>> Read the full report, and let us know your reactions below.

 

Posted By: Timothy Foley on 12/23/2008 5:19:00 PM

comments (0) OR Safetysharps injuries

Presenting the Evidence

We've received a copy of the ACS Statement on Sharps Safety, presenting the evidence for increased use of safety devices like blunt suture needles, double gloving and "The Neutral Zone." The evidence is pretty eye-catching. See for yourself, and tell us what you think!

ACS STatement on Sharps Safety ACS Statement on Sharps Safety

 

Posted By: OR Safety Task Force on 11/13/2008 6:09:00 PM

comments (0) double gloveneutral zoneOR Safety

My Thoughts on the Clinical Congress of the American College of Surgeons in San Francisco

As a member of the OR Safety Task Force, I recently attended the 94th Clinical Congress of the American College of Surgeons in San Francisco. The theme was “Leading the way to Quality, Safety and Excellence,” and I came away with some strong impressions on how we can focus the work of CIR’s OR Safety Task Force

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Posted By: Dr. Vaughn Whittaker, CIR OR Safety Task Force on 10/24/2008 1:08:00 PM

comments (0) double glovehepatitis Bhepatitis Cneutral zonenever eventsOR Safetysafety devices