First Case Podcast

What happens when disaster strikes? Do you know what your role is in an emergency? In today's introductory episode of Season 12, First Case co-hosts Melanie and Chris kick off our season on Disaster Preparedness by sharing their own experiences of the unexpected. Tune in as Chris shares about her experience with Hurricane Harvey as the Medical Liaison for Ellis County, TX, Community Emergency Resp...

"Medical equipment can seem boring. It sits in the corner, quietly doing its job, never complaining, or asking for anything in return. However, each device serves a crucial role in patient care and cannot be forgotten. " In this 7th episode of our series, we're going to learn about preventative maintenance, the different factors at play when establishing a plan for maintenance, and the best way to...

"With the high cost of medical equipment and the constant demand for new and innovative technologies, effective inventory management is crucial for maximizing the lifespan and value of these assets. By tracking and managing inventory in real-time, healthcare facilities can make informed decisions about when to repair, replace, or upgrade their equipment, ultimately helping to reduce costs and impr...

" In an industry where time is of the essence and resources are often limited, effective project management can mean the difference between success and failure. Effective project management is essential in the field of medicine, where the stakes are high and the margin for error is small." Tune in to episode 5 to discover how improper receiving and staging of equipment can lead to delays in treatm...

"Sourcing medical equipment and negotiating the best contract can be a daunting task for any healthcare organization. With so many options and factors to consider, it's easy to feel overwhelmed. However, taking the time to carefully review the options and negotiate a fair and favorable deal can pay off in the long run. " Tune in to episode 4 of our series to learn how investing in high-quality med...

"Cost of ownership in medical equipment extends beyond initial purchase. It encapsulates the hidden expenses of maintenance, upgrades, replacements, and service contracts, significantly influencing the bottom line. A crucial aspect of efficiently managing these costs is standardization in categorizing equipment failures..." Tune in to episode 3 of our series to learn how standardizing failure code...

With opioid abuse on the rise, many surgical patients and healthcare providers are seeking non-pharmacological approaches to manage pain, anxiousness, and postoperative nausea and vomiting. What alternatives are available in the healthcare setting? In this refreshing Vendor Spotlight TM , join us as we discover the world of clinical aromatherapy with Melissa Vibberts, Director of Brand Management,...

"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." Tune in to episode 2 of our series to hear more about service reporting from Ashley! In this 12-Part Expert Series  On-Th...

Is clinical aromatherapy the right choice for your surgical patient? In this final episode of Season 11, we're joined by Melissa Vibberts, Director of Brand Management, and Laurel Flanagan, Clinical Product Specialist & Certified Aromatherapist with Elequil Aromatabs aromatherapy by Beekley Medical. In this episode, Melissa and Laurel share their journeys into the world of aromatherapy, highlighti...

In this 12-Part Expert Series On-The-Go series, we're learning from industry expert Ashley Jackson, VP of Asset Management Solutions at Mazree. With several years of experience at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center as a Biomedical Engineering Manager, Ashley is a foremost expert in Asset Management. She now oversees the development and implementation of Mazree's innovative and advanced Lifecyc...

Bob Marley once said, " One good thing about music, when it hits you, you feel no pain." Everyone can recognize the power that music has. We're drawn to it emotionally and spiritually, but we can also be affected by it physiologically. In today's interview with Dr. Alice Cash, CEO & Founder, Surgical Serenity Solutions, we're going to uncover the many ways that music can benefit surgical patients....

Is the data collected in your Surgical Services department useful? Can you depend on that data to make informed decisions about staffing, case volumes, and block time utilization? In today's First Case Vendor Spotlight TM  we're going to discover data we can trust as we dive into the innovative world of Leap Rail TM , a platform revolutionizing perioperative services with artificial intelligence,...

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...