Pottstown Hospital earns safety recognition
POTTSTOWN » A national nursing organization has recognized Pottstown Hospital — Tower Health for its work in eliminating hazardous smoke generated during surgical procedures. The hospital was notified Jan. 6 that it has earned the Gold Level Go Clear Award from the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN).
Pottstown is the first Tower Health Hospital to achieve the Gold Award level — the highest level — from AORN, and it is the first time the hospital has been recognized. Pottstown is one of about 300 hospitals in the country to achieve the level, and one of only a few Pennsylvania hospitals to earn national recognition.
Pottstown Hospital started the process for the voluntary program more than a year ago, according to Mark Collington, director of surgical services, in an emailed response to questions.
To qualify for the award, Pottstown Hospital registered with AORN to be evaluated. Hospital staff, including all surgical staff and surgeons, underwent comprehensive surgical smoke education and testing on the process to eliminate smoke in the operating rooms. In addition, the hospital purchased additional suctions systems that pull the smoke generated during surgeries and put it into a filter and air purifier.
“Implementing practices that eliminate smoke caused by the use of lasers and electrosurgery devices during surgery is part of our focus on increasing safety throughout our organization,” Richard Newell, president and CEO of Pottstown Hospital, said in a press release. “I congratulate our surgery team on the outcome of their combined effort dedicated to creating an environment that protects staff and patients.”
During surgery, lasers or other surgical devices that are used produce smoke, which can obstruct surgeons’ views and often contain toxic gases and particles. Inhalation and absorption of surgical smoke pose serious health risks, according to the release. AORN partnered with Medtronic through the AORN Foundation to create the Go Clear program to help hospitals develop surgical smoke evacuation procedures.
According to the AORN website, there are three Go Clear Award designations — Bronze, Silver, and
Gold. Facilities are rated on their education performance, smoke evacuation compliance and ensuring the facilities have sufficient smoke evacuators and accessories.
“While there is no mandatory compliance requirement in the state to eliminate smoke during surgeries, we want to set the example for other hospitals to see that it is a worthy and achievable goal,” Newell added.
AORN represents the interests of more than 160,000 perioperative nurses by providing nursing education, standards and practice resources — including the peer-reviewed, monthly publication AORN Journal — to enable optimal outcomes for patients undergoing operative and other invasive procedures.
Pottstown Hospital is a member of Tower Health and is a 232bed hospital offering a full range of health services, including inpatient and outpatient, medical and surgical, and diagnostic and emergency care.