Milford Regional Earns Surgical Safety Kudos

Members of Milford Regional Medical Center’s Operating Room team who were part of the years-long collaborative efforts in attaining the Go Clear Award include L to R: Clinical Education Coordinator Kate Doller, RN; Operating Room nurses Carrie Lill, RN and Hannah Gautreau, RN; Director of Perioperative Services Jennifer Larrabee, BSN, RN; Chair of Orthopedics Susan Barrett, MD; and Chief of Surgery Patrick McEnaney, MD.

Milford Regional Medical Center has been recognized as a Center of Excellence in Surgical Safety: Smoke Evacuation. The hospital earned the Go Clear Award from the Association of Perioperative Registered Nurses (AORN) for Milford Regional’s commitment to patient and workplace safety by ensuring a smoke-free environment in the operating room.

The Go Clear program was developed by AORN to help perioperative teams protect patients and staff from surgical smoke. AORN is a national organization which represents more than 200,000 surgical nurses across the country seeking to share and develop best practices for optimal outcomes in the operating room.

“Receiving this distinction from AORN not only underscores Milford Regional’s forward-thinking approach to workplace safety, but it also highlights our perioperative team’s commitment to foster meaningful and protective initiatives that benefit all in the OR,” said Milford Regional Director of Perioperative Services Jennifer Larrabee.

Surgical smoke is generated from certain surgical procedures involving lasers or electrosurgical devices. To reduce the potential negative effects of surgical smoke at Milford Regional, Larrabee and a team of individuals worked on smoke evacuation and mitigation measures.

To receive the Go Clear Award, Milford Regional had to complete several requirements over a three-year period, including educational modules by 250 surgical team members. A 12-week audit was also performed to ensure compliance of the smoke evacuation policy as well as verification that the proper equipment and filter system were in place for procedures.

“Attaining the Go Clear Award is a significant accolade that follows the years-long collaborative efforts of many in Perioperative services,” said Milford Regional Chief Nursing Officer and Vice President for Patient Care Services Judy Kelly. “This accomplishment is the latest of many attributed to our innovative and safety-focused OR team at Milford Regional.”