First Case Podcast

This week's episode of the First Case "Articles On-The-Go" series is written by, Melanie Perry, RN, BSN, CNOR co-host of the First Case podcast and founder of The Circulating Life where she discusses the real life importance of OR Time-Outs: " That realization hung heavy in the room. Everyone recognized the gravity of the situation and the seriousness of the error that had just been avoided. The c...

Between Season 4 and 5, we're going to be throwing back to some exciting interviews from Season 1! What is that tech doing over in the corner of the Operating Room on their computer? If you've ever wondered just what was going on, then you're not alone. We work alongside neuromonitoring techs in many different cases, but may of us don't know exactly what it is that they're doing throughout the pro...

This week's episode of the First Case "Articles On-The-Go" series is written by, Melanie Perry, RN, BSN, CNOR co-host of the First Case podcast and founder of The Circulating Life where she shares the 10 things she learned about real life in the Operating Room: " There was activity everywhere! It was this kind of controlled chaos that everyone was used to and everyone needed to get everything done...

A scrub nurse once said, "Give me a good rep, and I can scrub anything" -- describing the vital role that medical device reps play in the Operating Room.  On this week's episode of the First Case podcast, we sit down with  Christine Hoene , an experienced orthopedic representative passionate about her role in the OR. Reps who know their instruments and implants are a valuable resource to staff and...

This week's episode of the First Case "Articles On-The-Go" series is written by, Paul Wafer, BS, MBA, RN co-host of the First Case podcast and founder of Alpha Consulting Group, Inc. where he shares the struggle and fear we all have with change in the Operating Room: " We have a tendency to become complacent when something has been done the same way for a long time.  Even though the environment in...

Between Seasons 4 and 5, we're going to be throwing back to some exciting interviews from Season 1! When you do a laparoscopic case, do you have all of the open instruments available on your back table? Do you spend precious time counting your open and laparoscopic instruments prior to every case? Is this practice still necessary? Find out what the experts think as we interview Marilyn Burns, RN,...

This week's episode of the First Case "Articles On-The-Go" series is written by, Paul Wafer, BS, MBA, RN founder of Alpha Consulting Group, Inc. and Joahn Ginsberg, MBA where they tackle the topic of robotic conversions in your OR:  " Ultimately, when making a purchase or an upgrade make sure you have done a thorough cost analysis of your current program, include your surgeon's case commitment, an...

"Everyone please stop all activity for the time out." How many times do you hear this sentence every single day? Do you actually stop? Do you actively participate in the time out? On this week's episode of the First Case podcast, we sat down with OR Circulator Brenna Page, MSN, RN, CNOR, CNAMB to discuss this fundamental of patient safety in the OR. The time out is our last chance to confirm that...

This week's episode of the First Case "Articles On-The-Go" series is written by, Paul Wafer, BS, MBA, RN where he discusses the ins and outs of effective consignment inventory management: " One of the most expensive mistakes that an OR team can make is to mismanage this high dollar consignment inventory. In order to ensure that your hospital does not have to pay for product it did not use, here ar...

Between Seasons 4 and 5, we're going to be throwing back to some exciting interviews from Season 1! What do the OR and the Cath Lab have in common? Should Perioperative Leadership have oversight of the Cath Lab? Do we train Cath Lab nurses and techs the same as OR staff? We'll tackle all of these questions and many more on today's episode of First Case, where we speak with Katie Roy, RN, MSN, CNOR...

This week's episode of the First Case "Articles On-The-Go" series is written by, Paul Wafer, BS, MBA, RN where he discusses the basic of Case Cart preparation for your surgical cases: "So yes, the best way to solve your preference list and case picking woes is to hardwire a simple process into your workflow and then cWhat is a procedure case cart? We work with them every single day. They are the r...

Can you imagine an operating room where nothing was disposable? Where drapes were made out of cloth, IV bottles were made out of glass, and where you powdered the surgeon's gloves before sending them to be sterilized? On this episode of the First Case podcast, we sit down with Monica Weisbrich, BSN, RN, to discuss what the OR looked like in 1955 when she walked in as a new nurse. Tune in as she wa...

This week's episode of the First Case "Articles On-The-Go" series is written by, Paul Wafer, BS, MBA, RN and Hank Balch, BS, MDiv where they tackle the topic of inaccurate preference lists: " So yes, the best way to solve your preference list and case picking woes is to hardwire a simple process into your workflow and then commit to follow it. But, in order for that to work, you must think about a...

Have you ever seen a case cart taped shut, with the words "NO STEALING!" written across the tape? Have you ever grabbed instruments or supplies that you needed off the nearest case cart? Or, have you ever been the one who's instruments or supplies were taken? Pilfering supplies from the nearest case cart when we are in a hurry might be convenient, but it always leaves our coworkers in a bind, scra...

This week's episode of the First Case "Articles On-The-Go" series is written by, Paul Wafer, BS, MBA, RN where he discusses challenges around efficient OR scheduling practices: " Block scheduling in the operating room has become a common practice at many hospitals across the country.  By providing surgeons with a regular block of time for performing elective surgery, it allows for better planning...

Robotic surgery has become the gold standard for many minimally invasive surgeries, but getting the technology set up in the operating room involves more than just buying a machine. Is our OR big enough? Do we have the right instruments and sterile supplies? What about sterile processing? These questions (and so many more!) must be answered before robotic surgeries can begin in any facility. Tune...

This week's episode of the First Case "Articles On-The-Go" series is written by, Paul Wafer, BS, MBA, RN where he highlights five common reasons new OR staff leave your hospital: " With the average age of an Operating Room nurse now over 50 years old, there will be new nurses joining your organization in the future.  If you are having issues with staff turnover, chances are one or more of the 5 re...

OR managers & directors, when was the last time you wore scrubs at work? When was the last time you were physically present in the OR? Do your staff members know what you look like? Being a visible director in a busy OR is challenging, and can be difficult to manage alongside other leadership responsibilities. Finding balance in your level of engagement between staff, anesthesia, surgeons, and adm...

This week's episode of the First Case "Articles On-The-Go" series features, Paul Wafer, BS, MBA, RN discussing seven critical indicators for high performing Operating Rooms: " Blocks are meant for high volume surgeons who can fill a room.  It should be a "reward" for consistent utilization.  Blocks should be utilized at the 85% rate.  If physician blocks are consistently underutilized, they must b...

As the Covid-19 pandemic swept across the globe in 2020, our healthcare facilities faced a multitude of challenges. Inadequate amounts of PPE, a lack of Covid testing supplies, and ever-changing Covid policies were hurdles that had to be met and overcome as hospitals moved forward in the wake of the pandemic. Join us this week as we talk with Dr. Chris Turner, MD, anesthesiologist and Director of...

This week's episode of the First Case "Articles On-The-Go" series features, Paul Wafer, BS, MBA, RN discussing common misconceptions around measuring & evaluating surgery turnover times: " While turnover time can provide some measure of  efficiency, it is important not to rely on this number alone to determine how well your surgery department is running.  In our consulting practice we have seen se...

How clean is the air in your OR? Is the HEPA filter and the positive pressure of the room enough to protect your patient from contaminants in the air, or is there more to it than meets the eye? Join us in this eye-opening episode as we discuss infection prevention with air expert Dr. Linda D. Lee, public health practitioner and president of Linda D. Lee Healthcare Consultants. We'll learn more abo...

This week's episode of the First Case "Articles On-The-Go" series features, Paul Wafer, BS, MBA, RN and Hank Balch, BS, MDiv, CRCST, CIS, CER, CHL discussing the critical importance of SPD & OR teamwork: " Much of a facility's blaming/shaming culture can be tracked back to certain individuals who see it as their mission in life to burn their counterparts.  These folks must be dealt with.  They mus...

"Where's my tray?" "How'd you break the scope?" "Why aren't you precleaning?" "Agh, they messed it up again!" If you've worked in the operating room for any amount of time, you know that the relationship between the OR and SPD can be strained. For two departments that so heavily depend upon each other, the relationship is oftentimes more of a blame game than one of cooperation, mutual respect, and...

This week's episode of the First Case "Articles On-The-Go" series features, Paul Wafer, BS, MBA, RN discussing challenges in pre-operative preparation: " It is one of the great mysteries of life that some offices can have all of the information available days in advance, including the H&P, while others struggle getting it to you before the patient goes into the operating room.  We recommend that o...