News / Periop Café

August 2019 Director of Surgical Services News Roundup, Part 1

August 16, 2019

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August 2019 Director of Surgical Services News Roundup, Part 1

In August 2019 director of surgical services news, we saw special surprises for young patients, new surgery centers, and hospitals supporting each other through tragedy.

OR Nurses Learn Surgical Skills

At Naval Medical Center Camp Lejeune, in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, the orthopedic OR techs and nurses received some extra training. The hospital wanted to offer hands-on experiences for the OR staff to understand what the surgeons do.

Of course, the surgeons don’t need to worry about anyone coming for their jobs just yet. However, having other sets of eyes to check for potential problems during surgery serves to reduce surgical errors and increase efficiency.

Some of the skills they practiced included: how to drill holes in bone, placing stabilizing plates, and inserting screws and nails. Orthopedic cases can be complex, so the extra knowledge will serve to help everyone in the OR.

Original story can be found here.

Young Marine Receives a Special Ceremony

A 17-year old marine named Micah in South Carolina suddenly found himself being rushed to the hospital instead of attending his boot camp graduation. While everyone enjoyed the ceremony, Micah devastatingly discovered he needed emergency surgery.

The staff of Beaufort Memorial Hospital in Beaufort, South Carolina, felt his loss and wanted to make the day special for him. As he emerged from the operating room, the Marine Corps hymn played and staff lined the walls of the hall. Micah felt overjoyed and did his best to be at attention during the song, a huge smile across his face.

Micah also received a card and a stone cross from the OR staff as a memento of his mini-graduation. Small gestures like this can make all the difference for a patient in a bad situation.

Original story can be found here.

New Surgery Center Breaks Ground in Missouri

In Edwardswville, Missouri, stakeholders and supporters gathered for the ground-breaking ceremony of a new surgery center and clinic. The building will be the new home of the Anderson Surgery Center and the SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital Specialty Clinic.

The surgery center, for people of all ages, will feature two operating suites and one procedure room. The community looks forward to the completion of this facility in summer of 2020.

Original story can be found here.

El Paso Hospital Supports Dayton Hospital In Shooting Aftermath

Unfortunately, the staff of University Medical Center of El Paso in Texas and Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton, Ohio, have something in common: they both assisted victim of mass shootings in the same weekend. The shooting in Dayton happened one day after the shooting in El Paso.

Having just gone through the experience one day prior, the trauma workers in El Paso knew they needed to do something to support the Dayton trauma team. They sent a catered lunch, with dessert, so that the people in Dayton would know they were in the thoughts and hearts of those in El Paso.

Original story can be found here.

Unlikely Superheroes of the Operating Room

Last month, we learned about Amarillo’s Northwest Surgical Hospital using regular child-sized cars to allow children to drive themselves into the operating room. This month, St. Anne’s Hospital in Fall River, Massachusetts, has them beat. Through the Friends of Jack Foundation’s Superhero Program, children drive themselves to surgery, but with a bonus – they get to become superheroes!

The Superhero Program allows the children to dress up as their own hero, compelte with a cape, mask, and teddy bear. The vehicles used look like a superhero dunebuggy versus a normal car, complete with a drawing of a gang of heroes on the front.

These programs are important to help ease the fears of young patients in pediatric facilities. Surgery is scary for everyone, but especially for children, and being a superhero is a great distraction from those fears.

Original story can be found here.

Maryland Golf Tournament to Benefit Surgical Services

In Easton, Maryland, people are gathering to play golf for fun and to help their community. This year, the University of Maryland Memorial Hospital Foundation Golf Tournament will be benefitting the surgical services department of UM Shore Medical Center at Easton.

Specficially, the proceeds will be going towards the purchase of new, technologically advanced equipment. One of the pieces, the Jackson Table, allows better patient positioning during neurosurgeries and urologic surgeries.

Original story can be found here.

North Carolina Children’s Hospital In Compliance But Still Under Review

In May 2019, The New York Times broke a story about high pediatric mortality rates from cardiac surgery at the North Carolina Children’s Hospital in Chapel Hill. This prompted an investigation from the state throughout May and June.

This investigation declared the hospital in compliance with all regulations. However, the facility’s hold on pediatric cardiac surgeries still remains. Before proceeding, the hospital wants to ensure that no more preventable deaths occur.

Since the story, North Carolina Children’s Hospital worked to identify the problems causing these heightened rates. They determined staffing to be a major factor and made adjustments to eliminate personality conflicts and other issues.

Additionally, rumors have been circulating regarding North Carolina Children’s Hospital’s cardiac program merging or partnering with nearby Duke’s. However, the rumors are unconfirmed.

Original story can be found here.

Lehigh Valley Hospital Receives $1M Grant for Surgical Services

Congratulations to Lehigh Valley Hospital – Hazleton, in Hazleton, Pennsylvania! The hospital received a $1,000,000 grant to build a new surgical specialty medical office from the state.

The new facility will include general, colorectal, breast, vascular, bariatric, and urological surgery capabilities.

Original story can be found here.

Mount St. Mary’s Hires New Perioperative Management

Congrats to Julius Tegze, RN, BA for coming on as the new director of perioperative services at Mount St. Mary’s Hospital in Lewiston, New York.

Congrats to Amy Vanone, RN, BSN, for coming on as the new manager of perioperative services at Mount St. Mary’s Hospital in Lewiston, New York.

Original story can be found here.