First Case Podcast

It's time to Huddle Up - and get ready for the Season 13 Premier of First Case! This season is dedicated to covering all those safety topics you might hear covered quickly in a morning meeting or in more detail in a staff meeting, and Chris and Melanie are going to keep you learning all season long! In today's episode, Chris teaches us a new way to look at the acronym S.I.D.S. (Seal, Indicator, Da...

Surgical smoke is the dangerous byproduct of the energy-generating devices used in surgical procedures. During laparoscopic cases, surgical smoke must be removed to maintain field of vision and to protect patients and staff from exposure, but how do you evacuate surgical smoke and still maintain the pressure needed for the laparoscopic procedure? We're going to find out in today's First Case Vendo...

"Centralization requires a team with the right combination of expertise and experience to advance the process with speed, accuracy, and efficiency." In today's episode, Bryan shares how to identify the right personnel for your team - Tune in to find out! 💡In this weekly series we're learning from industry expert 𝗕𝗿𝘆𝗮𝗻 𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘁, 𝗖𝗖𝗦𝗩𝗣, 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗗𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗹𝗲 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗹𝘆 𝗦𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝘁 𝗔𝗲𝘀𝗰𝘂𝗹𝗮𝗽. Bryan...

How often have you been asked to apply abdominal pressure during a colonoscopy? This practice isn't just tough on the team—it also poses serious risks to both the staff and the patient. Join us in this First Case Vendor Spotlight TM  as we learn about colonoscopies and as we explore the very real dangers of manually applying abdominal pressure. In this eye-opening conversation, James Hathorn, CEO...

As health systems move to reprocess at a centralized location, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗮𝗺𝗲-𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗱 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗻 𝗼𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻. There are also considerations for logistics that impact the typical 5-6 hours required to reprocess an instrument set. Current inventory levels may need to be augmented and in today's episode, 𝗕𝗿𝘆𝗮𝗻 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻 𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝘁𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗮𝘀 𝗱𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼...

In this 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗲𝗽𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗱𝗲 of First Case, we sit down with Connie Hall, Endoscopy Supervisor at the University of Missouri, to learn more about colonoscopies and to uncover a serious risk to patients and staff. Tune in as Connie discusses how colonoscopies have evolved during her 35+ years in healthcare, including equipment advancements and shifts in patient demographics. We'll also learn abo...

As health systems strive to improve quality and value for their communities, they may face the dueling conflict of meeting individual surgeon needs while supporting system goals for standardization and economies of scale. This tension can be particularly acute when it comes to preference items, which are the vendor-specific supplies and equipment surgeons want to use in their cases. Tune in as Bry...

How long does it take for a health system to plan and prepare for surgical instrument centralization? What steps can be taken to ensure a successful outcome? Find out in today's episode as Bryan answers the question, "How long does it really take to implement surgical instrument centralization?" In this weekly series we're learning from industry expert Bryan Stuart, CCSVP, National Director of Ste...

Have you ever considered the impact that your choice of surgical gloves can have on your day-to-day work and hand health? In this new First Case Vendor Spotlight TM , Dr. Rosemary Babeaux, the Global Medical Science Lead for the United States at Cardinal Health TM , returns to discuss the latest advancements in surgical gloves, including the patented Neu-Thera TM  moisturizing coating for Protexis...

𝗪𝗲𝗹𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝟭𝟮-𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘁 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗢𝗻-𝗧𝗵𝗲-𝗚𝗼 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀! In this weekly series we're learning from industry expert Bryan Stuart, CCSVP, National Director of Sterile Supply Solutions at Aesculap. Bryan has over 30 years of experience in the medical field and 13 years of operational experience in an FDA-regulated environment as a third party processor of surgical linens and instrumentation. From t...

With the Covid pandemic still fresh in our minds, we can all remember the daily struggle for supplies. But it doesn't take a pandemic to empty our supplies. In this final episode of Season 12, we're speaking with Suzi Collins, Director of Supply Chain Analytics for Banner Health, and we're going to discover the inner workings of Supply Chain. How does a tornado in Memphis, TN, affect hospitals in...

Do you know where your Downtime Forms are located? Do you know how recently they were updated? Joining us today to discuss Cyber Attacks and the importance of having a comprehensive plan in place to address initial downtime communication is Carmel Pound and Niesan Emara. Using both real-world and hypothetical examples, Carmel and Niesan make the case for the importance of including downtime traini...

It's our final installment of our Expert Series On-The-Go series with Asset Recovery Expert Ashley Jackson! We're wrapping up the series with a final look at lifecycle management and discovering the benefits of reselling and recycling.  "Overall, asset resale and recycling are key strategies for healthcare organizations looking to improve their bottom line, reduce waste and provide better care to...

Who keeps everything running smoothly at your facility when a disaster occurs? Find out on today's episode of First Case as we sit down with Josh Brackett, System Regulatory Director of Facilities Services at Banner Health. Josh will share his expertise on preparing for and mitigating disasters at the facilities level, emphasizing the critical role of the Facilities Department in emergency managem...

How can perioperative clinicians and supply chain work together to optimize supply consumption and documentation to support enhanced patient care? Find out in today's Vendor Spotlight ™ featuring Jen Nichols, BSN, RN, Clinical Consultant for Cardinal Health™ Presource ® Solutions and Debbie Davis, Vice President of Product and Marketing Strategy for Cardinal Health™ WaveMark™ Solutions. We'll high...

"Decommissioning is clearly more than just getting rid of old equipment. It is a multi-step process that requires careful planning and execution to ensure the safety, compliance of the equipment, as well as the protection of patient and facility data." So what do you need to consider before you start hauling old, unused equipment to the curb? Find out in today's Expert Series On-The-Go with Asset...

What happens if you find yourself in the middle of an emergency in the wilderness? Or what if a natural disaster forces you to leave your home? Dr. Glenn Barnes, associate clinical professor of nursing at UT Tyler, Tyler Texas, joins us today to address the unique training associated with Wilderness Medicine and Survival Training. Tune in to discover how he certifies nursing students in wilderness...

Dive into a world of strategic collaboration, operational efficiency, and exciting improvements in healthcare delivery in this First Case Vendor Spotlight™ featuring Elke Jackson, RN, BSN, Director Perioperative Services, and Amanda Lucas, PhD, RN, Director of Quality and Sterile Processing at ECU Health. Discover how ECU Health navigated the COVID-19 pandemic, overcoming supply chain challenges a...

Welcome to episode 10 of our Expert Series On-The-Go with Asset Recovery Expert Ashely Jackson! Today we're learning about equipment disposition and resale and the process of disposing of assets that are no longer needed or have reached the end of their useful lifespan. Tune in to discover one of the key benefits of asset redeployment! ------- In this 12-Part Expert Series On-The-Go series, we're...

What does it look like when there's a code in the operating room? Do you feel confident in your ability to respond, or do you secretly hope that someone else will handle everything? In today's interview, we're speaking with resuscitation expert Dr. Susan Davis, DNP, RN, EMT-P. Susan is the  Resuscitation Manager at a healthcare system in Florida, a member of the Citizens Advisory Committee for the...

Discover the world of robotic assisted surgery in this First Case Vendor Spotlight ™  with Robbie George, Vice President of Surgical Services at Ballad Health. In this exciting episode, we'll hear Robbie's personal story of success with implementing and growing a robotics program, plus, we'll discover how he used communication and education to overcome resistance to robotic surgery. We'll explore...

What is the biggest challenge that hospital staff face in preparing for disasters? Find out today as we dive into the world of emergency management with Derek Trabon, Director of Emergency Management at the University of Texas at Austin. Derek shares his journey into disaster preparedness, recounts his experiences during the Ebola crisis in Texas, and offers valuable insights on educating future n...

In this 9th episode of our Expert Series On-The-Go with Asset Recovery Expert Ashely Jackson, we learn more about the integral parts of lifecycle management. Plus, Ashley will highlight how addressing these areas allows healthcare providers to improve their bottom line while still providing top-notch patient care. Tune in now! ------- In this 12-Part Expert Series On-The-Go series, we're learning...

How can we be prepared for mass casualty events, terrorist attacks, or natural disasters? What core competencies should we know so that we're prepared when disaster strikes? Joining us today to talk all things disaster preparedness is Dr. Joanne Langan, Professor at St. Louis University, Valentine School of Nursing. In today's conversation we'll talk about the core competencies that make up the fo...

"Service reporting is more than routine paperwork; it's the lifeline of medical equipment maintenance and patient safety in healthcare facilities. In order to truly leverage this tool, standardizing the way Biomedical Engineering teams categorize equipment failures is crucial. " In this 8th episode of our series, Ashley explains why service reporting is so important, and outlines the reasons why s...