Yuma is not affected by ‘nationwide’ surgical gown shortage, YRMC says

Last week, CNN reported that a shortage of surgical gowns is “affecting the whole country” and placing many patients’ non-emergency surgeries on hold. However, Yuma Regional Medical Center has not been impacted by the shortage, officials said.

On Jan. 21, Cardinal Health – a leading manufacturer of surgical gowns based in Ohio – issued an official notice to customers informing them of a “voluntary recall” of its AAMI Level 3 surgical gowns produced by a contract manufacturer “after discovering that some gowns were produced in unauthorized, unregulated locations” that were not registered with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or qualified by Cardinal Health, CNN reports.

Level 3 gowns, according to the FDA’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health director Jeffrey Shuren, are used in a wide range of surgical procedures, including open-heart surgeries and knee replacements and “are intended to be worn to protect both the patient and health care personnel from transfer of microorganisms, body fluids and particulate material.” Yuma was not impacted by the recall. “Patient care at Yuma Regional Medical Center remains completely unaffected by the current recall of Level Three surgical gowns made by Cardinal Health,” said Vice President of Operations Trudie Milner. “Prior to this recall, YRMC had already contracted with a second manufacturer of certain surgical supplies, including this type of surgical gown. Due to this reliable supply of gowns, YRMC is confident that its high-quality surgical care will continue to be unaffected.”