First Case Podcast

There are a variety of opioid-sparing techniques available for surgical patients and joining us today to tell us more about them is Orthopedic surgeon and opioid sparing advocate, Dr. Michael Redler. In today's interview we'll learn about the importance of patient education, regional blocks, and multimodal pain management strategies. Dr. Redler will also share insights from his medical mission wor...

Can we manage pain and anxiety without medication? In today's interview, we sit down with Jessica Hovland, DNP, RN, CPAN, NE-BC, PMGT-BC, registered nurse and the Senior Director for UT Health Austin's Ambulatory Surgery Center , to answer this question! Tune in to discover how Jessica's DNP research blended multimodal analgesia and virtual reality to offer surgical patients a non-opioid treatment...

In today's First Case Vendor Spotlight TM , we dive into the future of healthcare operations with the AITA TM Smart System. Tune in as we speak with Matthew Chila, Director of Digitally Enabled Solutions at Ethicon, Inc., and Phil Gaby, Executive Director of Surgical Service Lines at a Community-Based Health System in Florida, to explore how AITA is transforming the management of suture inventory...

Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) Pathways are changing the surgical experience for our patients. Our surgical patients are experiencing shorter lengths of stay, decreased postoperative pain, a more rapid return of bowel function, and decreased readmission rates. Joining us today to provide more insight into the implementation and benefits of ERAS pathways is Kim Duggan, Senior Director and E...

 What does postoperative pain management look like in children? Is it the same as adults? In today's episode, Dr. Erik Pearson, a pediatric surgeon in Las Vegas, NV, sheds light on this important topic and draws attention to the unique nature of pediatric pain. Tune in to discover the alarming statistics surrounding opioid addiction in the pediatric population and find out what strategies can be u...

Regional anesthesia (nerve blocks) improves the patient's surgical experience, and the benefits of regional anesthesia last throughout the surgical procedure and well into the recovery process. Joining us today to talk all things regional anesthesia is Dr. Theresa Bowling, MD, Director of Anesthesia at the Connecticut Orthopedic Institute in Bridgeport, CT. We'll take a deeper look at the role tha...

Is your hospital clean? Do patients see the privacy curtain and see that it hasn't been exchanged in over a year?  "It's not surprising that patients and their loved ones "know clean when they see it" and that they value it. If enough patients are saying the hospital is not clean as evidenced by a curtain that hasn't been changed, hospital leadership should listen to them. Patients are making judg...

Are you ready for Season 11 to begin??   In this season, we're "Going Beyond Opioids" and focusing on the opioid crisis and alternative pain management methods. And we're kicking it off with none other than Orthopedic Surgeon and Opioid Sparing Advocate, Dr. Scott Sigman! Tune in as Dr. Sigman shares his personal experiences and insights into the devastating effects of the opioid crisis and find o...

How many times have you been asked to operate the laser during a case? Were you trained to operate that laser, and did you feel confident you could troubleshoot issues if anything went wrong?     Inconsistent laser safety practices in the OR can significantly increase risk to patients and staff, impact OR efficiency and add to the administrative burden on clinical staff.   So, what's the answer?  ...

Is the "inexpensive" curtain you signed up for actually costing you more money? "When looking at "no-ladder" solutions that deploy a standardized curtain size (whether fabric or disposable) one should not just consider the per panel cost, but more importantly HOW MANY curtain panels are required based on your track lengths." This is episode 11 of our 12-Part Expert Series On-The-Go series! In this...

Have you ever wondered what it was like to work in an operating room in another country? Or, have you ever thought about serving on a medical mission team? In this week's Special Release interview, join host Chris Blevins as she interviews Melanie Perry about her recent medical mission trip to Honduras. Find out what it was like to work in a foreign operating room, learn about the preparations tha...

Are ceiling-mounted cubicle tracks hindering room cleaning and patient turnovers? "It's not surprising that curtains fly under the radar, creating significant patient and staff infection risk as they frequently remain in place too long. But how on earth can we expect EVS departments to figure out how to exchange these curtains, touched by everyone, in a timely fashion when they've been dealt such...

Are anti-microbial curtains making us feel safer than we are? "Current studies show that even pre-treated textiles can become contaminated with pathogenic microorganisms. It is unfortunate that this "fecal patina" is not visible to the naked eye because this limitation allows for curtains to be bypassed for months by EVS management." This is episode 9 of our 12-Part Expert Series On-The-Go series!...

"Have you ever wondered what happens to items like used facemasks, gowns, or even those "recyclable" privacy curtains? You may assume they go "away," but did you know there is no "away" when it comes to these Single Use Disposables (SUDs)?" Find out more in today's Expert Series On-The-Go! This is episode 8 of our 12-Part Expert Series On-The-Go series! In this series, we're learning from industry...

In this episode, Karen dispels the myths surrounding UV-C light disinfection for privacy curtains, and discusses how UV-C light disinfection is less efficient than laundering. Plus, discover how long it can take to adequately terminally clean a patient room if the privacy curtain is exchanged as well.  This is episode 7 of our 12-Part Expert Series On-The-Go series! In this series, we're learning...

We're halfway through our 12-Part Expert Series On-The-Go series! In this 6th episode, we're continuing the conversation with industry expert Karen Goelst, CEO and Founder of KleenEdge. With a 20-year background in architectural specialties and textiles, Karen became passionate about solving the issues surrounding privacy curtains following her 15-year-old son's hospital stay with MRSA. In this ep...

What does advocacy look like within your facility? How can you speak to leadership in a way that can bring about change? Joining us to answer these burning questions is Dustin Cain, Coordinator of Quality and Education at a hospital in Atlanta, GA, and Current Treasurer for AST. In this final episode of Season 10 we'll discuss the benefits of belonging to your professional organization and learn w...

Welcome to episode 5 of our 12-Part Expert Series On-The-Go series, where we're continuing the conversation with industry expert Karen Goelst, CEO and Founder of KleenEdge! With a 20-year background in architectural specialties and textiles, Karen became passionate about solving the issues surrounding privacy curtains following her 15-year-old son's hospital stay with MRSA. In this episode, Karen...

For all of us working in healthcare, it's clock in and clock out, day in and day out. We're accustomed to the atmosphere of the facility, we understand how the clinics and systems work, and we know our way around the place. As we talk today with  Claudia Cometa, Executive Healthcare Consultant and Owner at Peace Advocacy Group , we'll be reminded that each of the patients who walk through our door...

 Do you ever wish there was an extra set of hands available to help hold forceps or a pair of scissors during a case? What if you could add this convenience and efficiency by using instrument pockets? In this exciting First Case Vendor Spotlight ™ , we learn all about the innovative development of the SmartGown ™ EDGE Breathable Gown with ASSIST ™ Instrument Pockets with surgeon and co-inventor, D...

This is episode 4 of our 12-Part Expert Series On-The-Go series, and we're continuing the conversation with industry expert Karen Goelst, CEO and Founder of KleenEdge. With a 20-year background in architectural specialties and textiles, Karen became passionate about solving the issues surrounding privacy curtains following her 15-year-old son's hospital stay with MRSA. In this episode, discover th...

In this third episode of our 12-Part Expert Series On-The-Go series, we're continuing the conversation with industry expert Karen Goelst, CEO and Founder of KleenEdge. With a 20-year background in architectural specialties and textiles, Karen became passionate about solving the issues surrounding privacy curtains following her 15-year-old son's hospital stay with MRSA. In this episode, find out ho...

How can I get involved with my local or state government? Can I make a difference? The answer to both questions is, "YES!" Joining us today to discuss advocacy at a local and state level is Megan Nolan, Director of Nursing and Patient Care Operations @ Boston Children's Hospital. In today's interview we'll discover Megan's motivation for advocacy, how she used that motivation to become involved wi...

Tune in for the second episode of our 12-Part Expert Series On-The-Go series, where we learn from industry expert Karen Goelst, CEO and Founder of KleenEdge. With a 20-year background in architectural specialties and textiles, Karen became passionate about solving the issues surrounding privacy curtains following her 15-year-old son's hospital stay with MRSA. Follow along as Karen highlights the c...

In this 12-Part Expert Series On-The-Go series, we're learning from industry expert Karen Goelst, CEO and Founder of KleenEdge. With a 20-year background in architectural specialties and textiles, Karen became passionate about solving the issues surrounding privacy curtains following her 15-year-old son's hospital stay with MRSA. Follow along as Karen highlights the current issues with cloth priva...