Conference Agenda

Sunday, October 16

10:00 am - 6:30 pm
Registration
Sponsored by:
   
11:00 am - 5:00 pm
Room: Summit 6
Simone Auger, Legislative Assistant, U.S. House of Representatives
Quinn Mullikin, PhD, RN, Associate Dean for Graduate Nursing Programs, Edgewood College
Katie Poole, MSN, BSN, RN, Graduate Advisor and Faculty, Edgewood College
Lisa Rosenfield, BS, MA, Special Projects & Partnerships Lead, CCI - Competency & Credentialing Institute
James Stobinski, PhD, RN, CSSM(E), CNOR, CNAMB, CEO, Competency & Credentialing Instit.
Josiah Whitman, CEO, Whitman Partners

The Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Pre-Conference workshop is a one-day workshop style course with presenters representing the Competency and Credentialing Institute, Whitman Partners, and Edgewood College. This workshop will provide perioperative leaders with information, data, and tools to use when incorporating DEI components within teams of perioperative nurses to facilitate culturally competent care. 


Join us for an interactive day of information, roundtable discussions, panels, breakout sessions, audience engagement, short presentations, and takeaways as we navigate some timely topics in the profession.


Topics include:

• Diversity of training for perioperative nurses

• The CCI Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Awards Program 

• Discussions about BIPOC, LGBTQ and ageism issues as they relate to the OR

• Demographic makeup of the perioperative nursing workforce

• Data sources for the American nursing workforce

• Instruments used in perioperative nursing workforce planning 

• The synergy of credentialing and workforce development

• Findings from a nationwide survey of perioperative & peri anesthesia nurses

• Professional development pathways in perioperative nursing (from Pre-Licensure to Emeritus)

• The CFPN credential as an entry point to the specialty 

• Funding sources for research supporting the perioperative nurse workforce.


Upon successful completion of this workshop, learners will receive:

• A digital badge issued by the Competency and Credentialing Institute

• A summary of recent literature about the demographic makeup of the perioperative nursing workforce

• A copy of findings from a nationwide research study conducted by the Competency and Credentialing Institute

• A copy of the Edgewood College syllabus for a 2-credit Introduction to Perioperative Nursing course for pre-licensure BSN students 

• 6 CE credits which can be used in the recertification process for any CCI credentials which have a recertification requirement. (Note: Within the CCI recertification process, 6 CE credits = 12 Professional Development Points).


 This program is not a certification. Learners must complete all course requirements to earn the 6 CE.


*Additional fee applies. Refunds are not available.

Fee includes luncheon and refreshment break.

Learning Objectives:
  • Identify one source of data on the demographic makeup of the perioperative nursing workforce.
  • Define one issue that constrains the availability of perioperative nurses.
  • Describe one method to increase the numbers of perioperative nurses.
11:00 am - 5:00 pm
Room: Summit 7
Process Improvement, Evidence Based Practice, Operations, Pre-Conference Workshops
Tabitha Kinlaw, MBA, MSN, NPD-BC, RN, CNOR, ONC, Nurse Manager - Education & Development, CCI - Competency & Credentialing Institute
Dawn Whiteside, MSN (Ed), RN, CNOR, NPD-BC, RNFA, Director of Education, CCI - Competency & Credentialing Institute

Earn your Professional Educator Practicum Certificate of Mastery by participating in the live course, and actively engaging in interactive lectures, breakout sessions, and completing all required post live course assignments in the CCI virtual classroom. 


Content presented is applicable to all nursing professional development specialties and limited to the perioperative setting.


As a part of the live one-day course and post course assignments, the following components will be covered:

•EBP and Research: This session will review concepts such as conducting a literature review and how to effectively promote evidence-based practice to enhance optimal patient outcomes

•Professionalism and leadership: This session will review the role of the professional nurse educator in nursing professional development. This role involves developing and supporting a healthy work environment, demonstration of effective communication skills, participation in the strategic plan of the organization, and appropriate delegation

•Instructional design: This session will focus on theories and principles related to both teaching and learning

•Staff development: This session will review topics such as coordinating orientation and onboarding, competency management, and continuing professional development


Upon successful completion of the Certificate of Mastery program, learners receive:

•Electronic Certificate of Mastery

•Digital Badges for each of the components & the Certificate of Mastery

•150 points towards CNOR/CSSM/CNAMB recertification requirements 


This program is a Certificate of Mastery, not a certification. Learners must complete all coursework within 6 months to earn the Certificate of Mastery.


*Additional fee applies. Refunds are not available. Fee includes luncheon and refreshment break.


Learning Objectives:
  • Identify resources to assist staff with transforming best practices into patient care.
  • Apply standards of professionalism and leadership to the role of nursing professional development.
  • Design education activities and utilize the nursing process to develop on-going professional development programs.

Take-home tool: Each participant will research, plan, and develop an educational activity specific to their organization. In addition, each participant will have the necessary tools to help develop competencies and orientation planning.

Monday, October 17

6:30 am - 6:30 pm
Registration
Sponsored by:
   
7:00 am - 8:00 am
Room: Aurora B-D
Networking Event
8:00 am - 11:00 am
Room: Colorado B
Quality/Safety, Workshop, Infection Control, Sterile Processing, Operations, Clinical, Finance, Workshops
Robin P. Adkins, BSN, CNOR, RNFA, Senior Director Clinical Engagement, Vanderbilt Health
Wayne Zeh Wellington, DNP, RN, NE-BC, Director of Procedural Care - Surgical Services, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital
Charles Williams, CSPDT, Manager Sterile Processing, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital
Sponsored by:
   

The operating room (OR) and the sterile processing department (SPD) are high-risk environments influenced by culture, teamwork, and task complexity. 


Sterile processing departments are the backbone of hospitals and surgical centers. Without a well-trained and highly detail-oriented sterile processing department, infection rates will rise, surgical site infections will increase, and surgeons will not have the proper tools to perform the patient’s procedure. 


Sterile processing departments are complex and infrastructure investment to enhance the units can be challenging. Some facilities may look to more cost-effective offsite sterile processing as an option to improve their SPD program.


In this workshop, we will hear 2 case studies from facilities who have transformed their sterile processing departments with different models, in-house and offsite. Learn about the workflow, team communications, cost savings, instrumentation availability, staff satisfaction and improved patient safety.  


Get take-home tools on processes you can implement at your facility whether you outsource or invest in-house. Learn how to better equip your SPD to meet the demands of the modern-day OR.

Learning Objectives:
  • Describe ways to enhance your SPD program to improve patient safety, efficiency and throughput.
  • Describe ways to better equip your SPD unit to improve staff satisfaction.
  • Discuss the myths around centralized offsite sterile processing.
8:00 am - 11:00 am
Room: Colorado C
Rose Sherman, EdD, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN, Professor Emeritus, Florida Atlantic University

COVID-19 is being described as a global life-quake event. A life-quake is a massive life change that reshapes our lives with aftershocks that can last for years. In this interactive workshop, we consider how this life-quake has changed the perioperative nursing workforce and what is expected from nurse leaders. Recruitment and retention best practice strategies and tactics will be discussed. You will leave the session with tools to add to your leadership toolkit to help you become the perioperative leader no one wants to leave. 


Workshop Agenda:

I. Tabletop Discussion of Recruitment & Retention Challenges with Group Debrief


II. The Impact of the COVID Life-Quake 

  • COVID-19 as a Life-Quake Event
  • The Impact of COVID on Workforce Trends
  • Current Staffing Data
  • Generational Shifts in the Workforce
  • The Business Case for Career Coaching
  • Perioperative Nurse Leaders as Chief Retention Officers

III. Best Practices in Recruitment and Retention 

  • Recruiting for Retention
  • Building a Team Culture of Inclusion
  • Begin with End in Mind – Effective Unit Onboarding
  • Conducting Stay Interviews
  • Strategically Offboarding Valued Staff Who Leave
  • Breakout Discussion and Debrief 
  • Program Evaluation
Learning Objectives:
  • Discuss how the COVID experience has changed the way nurses view their work with implications for recruitment and retention.
  • Describe what Generation Z and Millennial nurses want and expect from leaders and organizations that are different than previous generations of nurses.
  • Discuss evidence-based strategies and tools such as career coaching, effective onboarding, stay interviews, and strategic offboarding to promote a return to the workplace.

Take-home tool: Define the term a Life-Quake event and the impact that significant disruptors have on our personal and professional lives. Apply concepts learned to case situations in tabletop discussions.

8:00 am - 11:00 am
Room: Colorado D
Regulations/Legislation, Workshop, Workshops
John R. Rosing, MHA, FACHE, Executive Vice President, Patton Healthcare Consulting

Many of the most problematic Joint Commission standards are applicable to the OR and invasive procedure areas of your hospital. This session will identify each of these issues, highlight how surveyors attempt to assess your compliance with them, and share methods to install bulletproof solutions to ensure a finding-free survey.

Topics will include these requirements:

·      Obtaining and documenting informed consent for the procedure, anesthesia, and blood

·      History and Physical and H&P update

·      Brief assessment in lieu of an H&P

·      Post-procedure note and report

·      Universal Protocol to avoid wrong site, patient, procedure

·      Sentinel Event Alert 51: Preventing unintended retained foreign objects

·      Medication security and handling in the OR, PACU, and procedure area

·      Anesthesia assessment, documentation, supply management, and medication handling

·      Emergency response (Code Blue, Malignant Hyperthermia, Difficult Airway)

·      Infection control and OR surgical attire

·      Sterile Processing (precleaning and transport, decontamination, prep and pack, quality assurance, and storage of instruments)

If a requirement for improvement (RFI) is deserved and cited, a post-survey “evidence of standards compliance” is due in 60 days in the precise format specified by Joint Commission. It is important to remember in this phase that the Joint Commission is looking for evidence that the issue has been fixed, not a commitment to fix it at a future date or time, and that the improved process will be monitored so that compliance is sustained. This session will instruct participants on how to develop and write corrective action evidence of standards compliance plans.

Learning Objectives:
  • Describe how surveyors attempt to assess your compliance.
  • Describe the format to provide "evidence of standards compliance" to the Joint Commission.
  • Discuss how to develop and write corrective action evidence of standards compliance plans.
8:00 am - 11:00 am
Room: Aurora A

The OR Manager Conference Reverse Expo is where we connect buyers within the surgical suite to relevant product manufacturers and solutions providers through intelligent matchmaking and meaningful conversations. These meetings will bring together buyers and suppliers in a relaxed conversation outside the show floor for face-to-face connections and conversations. The Reverse Expo works because it’s mutually beneficial, gets right to the point in your conversations, and builds a stronger connection with buyers throughout the rest of the week. 

11:15 am - 12:15 pm
Room: Summit 6-7
Operations, Breakout Session, Case Scheduling, Data Mining, General Interest, General Interest Track
Sanjeev Agrawal, President and Chief Operating Officer, LeanTaaS
Ashley Walsh, MHA, Vice President Client Services, LeanTaaS
Sponsored by:
   

Healthcare has some tough challenges. Optimizing the capacity of expensive assets such as operating rooms is one of the big ones. 


OR utilization is often constrained by:

  • Inefficient processes (e.g. block allocation, creating and finding open time)
  • Deep rooted cultures and a “scarcity mindset”
  • An emphasis on metrics that don’t make a significant impact (on time starts, turnover times, block utilization), and
  • Lack of access to predictive and prescriptive analytics (no, your EHR doesn’t have this)

These issues continue to persist, despite best efforts around performance improvement. So how can OR leaders move past these constraints and safely maximize utilization? 


Please join this thought-provoking session on how timely access to reliable predictive and prescriptive analytics are unlocking OR capacity and optimizing utilization by better matching supply of constrained staffing, anesthesia, equipment, etc. resources with demand of surgeons and patients.

Learning Objectives:
  • Describe technologies to maximize OR utilization.
  • Identify processes that improve OR efficiency.
  • Discuss ways to overcome constraints by using predictive and prescriptive analytics.

Take-home tool: Session attendees will be offered a complementary copy of the recently published book “Better Healthcare Through Math”; a quick, easy, and informative read that explains how better performing healthcare systems are achieving remarkable results through the use of technology, based on complex math much like companies such as Fedex, UPS, Airlines, Waze, Amazon have done.

11:15 am - 12:15 pm
Room: Colorado C
Breakout Session, New Manager, Quality/Safety, New Manager Track
Amy M. Bethel, MPA, BSN, RN, NE-BC, Education Coordinator, OR Manager
Beth Bozzelli, MBA, RN, CNOR, CSSM, Vice President of Service Line, Surgical Services, LifePoint Health

New Managers - We are here to help! Your excellent critical thinking, organizational skills and clinical skills landed you in the management seat. Now your day is filled ensuring patient safety, quality and tackling daily staffing challenges.


This highly interactive workshop presented by two Masters in the field will provide managers with less than 5 years’ experience the tools needed to succeed. New Managers will learn the critical success factors when managing safety and quality decisions in the surgical environment.  


Plus, get a deep-dive on the human resource issues that are critical to the recruitment and retention of all staff.

Learning Objectives:
  • Define key components of establishing a culture of safety.
  • Discuss trending topics related to patient safety, employee safety and safety in the environment of care.
  • Describe best practices when managing your workforce and how to overcome common challenges.
11:15 am - 12:15 pm
Room: Crest 1-2
Breakout Session, ASC Leader Summit, Outpatient, Patient Care, ASC Leader Summit
Sheryl Burtch, MA, BSN, RN, NEA-BC, Senior Director, Surgical Services, Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center
Brenda Kendall, DNP, MS, RN, CNOR, Associate Chief Nursing Officer, Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center
Sponsored by:
   

The ambulatory surgery center (ASC) relationship to inpatient hospitals can be challenging when it comes to operational decisions. Patient location, block time assignment, and start times (whether inpatient or outpatient) are only a few decisions among a mirage of others to consider when making an ASC profitable. ASCs provide quality care at a reduced cost while achieving high rates of employee and patient satisfaction. Bumped to the top of the list while we navigate COVID-19 is system strategy to liberate inpatient OR time for high acuity patients by assignment of lower acuity patients to satellite ambulatory locations. To accomplish this, the need was identified to shift outpatient procedures from inpatient venues to ambulatory sites. To support this need, the operationalization of an extended recovery unit (ERU) located inside a licensed ASC was developed. This presentation will show the ASC ERU model, patient population, management, inpatient impact post-implementation, and lessons learned.

Learning Objectives:
  • Define inpatient acuity opportunity with ambulatory ERU implementation.
  • Identify key system performance metrics with assignment of surgical location.
  • Describe the extended recovery operational model and assess transferability.
11:15 am - 12:15 pm
Room: Summit 8-9
Breakout Session, Business/Finance, Operations, Business/Finance Track
Maria Sullivan, MSN, MMHC, RN, CNOR, Manager Pediatric Operating Room, Monroe Carrell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt

Incorporating new codes and technology in OR renovations while working with multidisciplinary teams can be quite a challenge, not to mention keeping volumes steady coming out of the era of pandemic-driven cancellations. This session will describe plans for OR renovations, including research into new products, technologies, design teams, and architects. Learn how this facility offset volumes while having two ORs down for a period of 12–14 weeks.

Learning Objectives:
  • Describe the importance of planning prior to renovations.
  • Identify tools in your institution that can help with the renovation process.
  • Identify opportunities for maintaining budgeted volume during renovations with less ORs.
11:15 am - 12:15 pm
Room: Crest 3-5
Masters Series, Breakout Session, Clinical/Education, Patient Care, Clinical/Education Track
Tesha Nesbit, RCC, Founder and Principal, Phoenix Rising Coaching & Consulting

The quality of patient care is significantly enhanced when culturally empathetic clinicians center their patients’ needs. Narrative reflection, or clinical storytelling, offers a pathway to health equity by prioritizing compassion and the patient’s perspective in delivering patient-centered care. As the pandemic continues to amplify socioeconomic inequities resulting from structural systems that maintain these disparities, narrative medicine exercises help clinicians and students confront their unconscious biases and connect to their practice on a more empathetic and emotional level. In this session, we will discuss historical precedence and the social determinants of health, and focus on how quality care delivery requires that clinicians listen to and respect their patients’ individual narratives, backgrounds, and experiences. We will explore how narrative reflective exercises help clinicians to better understand their patients and themselves, improve relationships, grow personally and professionally, and pursue a more humanistic medical practice.


*Masters Series

Learning Objectives:
  • Define narrative medicine and how it allows clinicians to recognize their own personal journeys.
  • Identify the root systems and cultural biases that inhibit health equity.
  • Describe narrative medicine exercises to deliver empathetic, compassionate, and patient-focused care.
11:15 am - 12:15 pm
Room: Colorado B
Staffing/Retention, Leadership/Regulatory, Breakout Session, Leadership/Regulatory Track
Daphny Peneza MSN, RN, CNOR, CSSM, Perioperative Services Manager, Vanderbilt Health

As multiple global crises emerge, potential nurse leaders continue to race against time and clinical safety to find balance in the middle of the battleground. In this unique crossroad, they must decide to step up for their clinical teams, community, families, or professional associations. This presentation will outline the journey of an internationally educated volunteer leader as she journeys through the tides of the global pandemic and other unforeseen crises. Successful global strategies on innovative leadership and creative education will be shared and highlight how true joy propels the heart of an emerging leader.

Learning Objectives:
  • Define creative resilience in action.
  • Discuss how true joy propel the emerging leader in the middle ground.
  • Identify successful global strategies to transcend joy and engage your growing team.
11:15 am - 12:15 pm
Room: Colorado D
Breakout Session, PACU/Post-Op Education, PACU Manager Summit, PACU Manager Summit
Janet Quigley, MSN, RN, NEA-BC, Nursing Director: Post Anesthesia Care, Massachusetts General Hospital
Sponsored by:
   

Many factors contribute to bottlenecks in the PACU. This workshop will provide you with tools to more efficiently run your PACU and improve the patient flow from the OR to PACU to discharge. Create a predictor tool to anticipate issues in flow and mitigation strategies to alleviate the bottleneck. 

Learning Objectives:
  • Identify factors that will lead to PACU holds.
  • Identify new practices and patient populations that will assist in hospital capacity.
  • Describe mitigation strategies to anticipate flow constraints in the PACU.
12:15 pm - 1:45 pm
Room: Aurora B-D
Vicky Lyle, Vice President, Industry Associations, Owens & Minor, Inc.
Genia Rector, RN, Supply Chain Services Senior Associate, Owens & Minor, Inc.
Sheri Voss, MS, RN, CNOR, Associate Principal Consultant, Owens & Minor, Inc.
Sponsored by:
   

With so many disruptors in our industry including shortages in supply and labor, pent up demand for elective surgeries and the next variant looming - how can you find ways to become more efficient?

Join us once again this year to identify challenges in the OR and share ideas with your peers on overcoming those challenges. We will also give you some updates from last year’s session where we explored improving the preference card.

Learning Objectives:
  • Identify industry challenges in the OR.
  • Discuss ideas for overcoming these industry challenges.
  • Discuss ways to improve preference cards.
Kevin Henson, DNP, MSN, Senior Director, Surgical and Anesthesia Services, Appalachian Regional Healthcare System Inc
Sponsored by:
   

This luncheon presentation will provide you with knowledge on the clinical pharmacology, safety, and efficacy of a short-acting sedative for procedures lasting 30 minutes or less in adults. Gain knowledge on the safety and efficacy of an antiemetic proven as a rescue treatment for PONV in adults.

Learning Objectives:
  • Understand a treatment option to get your patients in and out of procedure in < 30 minutes.
  • Learn about a treatment option for effective PONV rescue after failed prophylaxis.
Ben Chew, MD, Director of Clinical Research, Vancouver General Hospital
Julia Krizek, RN, UBC Hospital Operating Room RN - Urology Team Lead, Vancouver General Hospital
Sponsored by:
   

Attend this luncheon to understand how the initial experience with the novel Single-Use Digital Flexible Ureteroscope with intrarenal pressure monitor impacts patient care.

Learning Objectives:
  • Describe the trends in ureteroscopy.
  • Discuss the link between elevated intrarenal pressure and complications.
  • Describe novel technology used to measure real-time intrarenal pressure.
2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Room: Summit 6-7
Breakout Session, General Interest, General Interest Track
Gail Pietrzyk, DNP, RN, CNOR, Chief Nursing Officer, Caresyntax
Joan White, Director of Clinical Consulting, Caresyntax
Sponsored by:
   

Ever walk into your OR and everything is suddenly perfect? How do you monitor fidelity with safety processes? Please join this session to learn how new AI enabled technology combined with analytics can help you uncover root causes that create dysfunction and inefficiencies in your Operating Rooms. Let’s open up that black box (without the Hawthorne effect) to improve surgeon and staff satisfaction as well as clinical outcomes such as SSI.  

Learning Objectives:
  • Describe how analytical and video data can be used to improve performance and enhance teamwork.
  • Describe how benchmarking can facilitate engagement for performance improvement.
  • Participants will gain an understanding of technical skill and non-technical skill evaluation tools and their use.
2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Room: Colorado C
Breakout Session, New Manager, Operations, New Manager Track
Amy M. Bethel, MPA, BSN, RN, NE-BC, Education Coordinator, OR Manager
Beth Bozzelli, MBA, RN, CNOR, CSSM, Vice President of Service Line, Surgical Services, LifePoint Health

New Managers - We are here to help! Your excellent critical thinking, organizational skills and clinical skills landed you in the management seat. Now your day is filled ensuring patient safety, quality and tackling daily staffing challenges.


This highly interactive workshop presented by two Masters in the field will provide managers with less than 5 years’ experience the tools needed to succeed. New Managers will learn the critical success factors when managing safety and quality decisions in the surgical environment.  


Plus, get a deep-dive on the human resource issues that are critical to the recruitment and retention of all staff.


Learning Objectives:
  • Define key components of establishing a culture of safety.
  • Discuss trending topics related to patient safety, employee safety and safety in the environment of care
  • Describe best practices when managing your workforce and how to overcome common challenges.
2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Room: Crest 1-2
ASC Leader Summit, Breakout Session, Outpatient, Regulations/Legislation, ASC Leader Summit
Elethia Dean RN, PhD, CEO, ASC Compliance LLC

Ambulatory surgery center (ASC) regulatory compliance may seem daunting for many managers. ASC staff working to achieve compliance must stay on top of the specific regulations impacting ASCs. Attend this session to get the latest updates on Medicare surveys, new regulations and options for compliance.

Learning Objectives:
  • Describe one deficiency cited on recent Medicare surveys.
  • Describe the impact of COVID-19 on the ambulatory surgery center setting.
  • Identify one area of focus on recent Medicare surveys.
2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Room: Summit 8-9
Masters Series, Patient Care, Process Improvement, Breakout Session, Business/Finance, Business/Finance Track
Michelle Lee Davis, BSN, BA, RN, CNOR, Quality Management Coordinator, UAMS
Holly Taylor, DNP, RN, CNOR, NPD-BC, CNAMB, Quality Management Coordinator, UAMS

One academic medical center’s (AMC) foundational plan and key steps to address Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) Patient Safety Indicators (PSI 90), reduce clinical documentation variation, and effectively target adverse events and in-hospital complications. This session will discuss strategic team building, clinical and coding differences, and documentation improvements. Collaborative teamwork resulted in decreased observed/expected metrics in the Clinical Data Base (CDB) for each of the focused PSI 90 categories: PSI 9 Perioperative Hemorrhage or Hematoma Rate, PSI 11 Postoperative Respiratory Failure Rate, and PSI 13 Postoperative Sepsis Rate.


The AMC administration purposefully selected AHRQ Patient Safety Indicators (PSI 90) as an area for focused improvement in 2020, with emphasis on reliability of processes and service line optimization to reduce variation in clinical documentation.


A management guidance team (MGT) was developed. The MGT selected the above PSI 90 categories due to higher observed/expected rates in each category. Additionally, each of these PSIs effect both the quality and accountability scorecard and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Hospital-Acquired Condition Reduction Program. Tactical teams consisting of surgeons, anesthesiologists, registered nurses, quality management coordinators, data analysts, clinical documentation integrity (CDI) and coding specialists, information technologists, and performance improvement specialists were formed for each PSI.

Learning Objectives:
  • Describe methods for focused improvement of PSI 90 cases.
  • Compare the Management Guidance Team and Tactical Teams stakeholders at this AMC to those within the learner’s organization to best leverage their resources.
  • Identify process improvement areas for documentation and CDI/coding.
2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Room: Crest 3-5
Breakout Session, Clinical/Education, Process Improvement, Clinical/Education Track
Melia Barrow, RN, BSN, CNOR, Primary Nurse, RN II Cardiothoracic Surgery, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center
Dawna Willsey, MSN, RN, CNOR, Clinical Director, Perioperative Services, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center

Visual Management Boards provide the crucial communication of clear processes and expectations necessary to engage and support staff. Utilization of the visual management board provides an avenue for staff to connect their work with performance expectations, view impact and progress, identify where problems lie, determine solutions, demonstrate team appreciation, and celebrate successes. This educational offering will provide the learner with examples of communication components utilized in perioperative visual management boards, demonstrate how the 20 minute weekly visual management board huddle meeting is conducted, and describe our 3-year journey in creating a culture of continuous improvement.

Learning Objectives:
  • Describe communication components utilized in a visual management board.
  • Discuss how use of the visual management board engages and supports staff.
  • Discuss how use of the visual management board supports a culture of continuous improvement.
2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Room: Colorado B
Staffing/Retention, Masters Series, Leadership/Regulatory, Breakout Session, Leadership/Regulatory Track
Paul Brown, RN, BSN, Surgical Operations Nursing Director, Intermountain Healthcare
Mary Anne Douglas, MSN, RN, Surgical Operations Nurse Executive Director, Intermountain Healthcare

Float teams have long been a staple of nursing staffing plans but have not been widely used in surgery. Come learn how Utah Valley Hospital, a Level 6, Trauma One facility in Provo, Utah, developed float teams over more than a decade honed a method to not just float nurses and surgical technologists between SDS, PACU, and OR, but also float between 5 geographically close hospitals. With a 15-year successful track record, this model was adopted by other geographical areas within Intermountain Healthcare in 2020 to maximize available staff in surgical services during the pandemic. Come learn about recruitment, orientation, and scheduling of this unique staffing model that is now part of our ongoing strategy to maximize available staff during tight staffing times.

Learning Objectives:
  • Discuss the basic elements of a true surgical "Float Team" including who, where, and how.
  • Identify how to manage the float pool and attract and incentivize candidates willing to "go anywhere."
  • Describe how to copy this model in a system-wide approach to meet labor demands in a short-staffed world.
2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Room: Colorado D
PACU/Post-Op Education, Breakout Session, PACU Manager Summit, PACU Manager Summit
Janet Quigley, MSN, RN, NEA-BC, Nursing Director: Post Anesthesia Care, Massachusetts General Hospital

Many factors contribute to bottlenecks in the PACU. This workshop will provide you with tools to more efficiently run your PACU and improve the patient flow from the OR to PACU to discharge.  Create a predictor tool to anticipate issues in flow and mitigation strategies to alleviate the bottleneck.


Learning Objectives:
  • Identify factors that will lead to PACU holds.
  • Identify new practices and patient populations that will assist in hospital capacity.
  • Describe mitigation strategies to anticipate flow constraints in the PACU.
3:15 pm - 4:30 pm
Room: Aurora B-D
Keynote, Staffing/Retention, Keynotes
David A. Wyatt, PhD, RN, CNOR, NEA-BC, Chief Nursing Officer, University Hospitals, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

As nursing leaders, there aren’t easy answers for the challenges we face today during this sustained crisis. Nursing leaders are in their position for a reason and we’ve got to be innovative to tackle the challenges that lie ahead. The solutions of yesterday, won’t work for us today. We need the courage to think differently than we did 10 years ago.


Hear from David Wyatt as he shares innovative ways that nursing leaders can not only survive, but thrive in today’s perioperative environment. We are being called “for such a time as this” to be the leaders in our position, now more than ever.

Learning Objectives:
  • Discuss the role of resilience in leadership.
  • Identify two ways for leaders to “retain” themselves.
  • Identify leadership best practices during a sustained crisis.
4:30 pm - 6:30 pm
Room: Aurora Exhibit Hall
Networking Event
Sponsored by:
   

OR Manager would like to welcome you into the Exhibit Hall on the first day of the conference at the Mile-High Welcome Party. Take advantage of your first true opportunity to hang out with colleagues and industry suppliers. Visit with over 140 vendors who offer equipment, products and solutions for the operating room and the people who manage it. Travel from station to station throughout the exhibit floor and explore the perks of our host city, Denver!

One ticket is included in your conference pass. Additional passes are available for purchase during registration for $40. All guests must be 21+.

5:00 pm - 5:30 pm
Room: Aurora Exhibit Hall
Technology Presentations

Demand for Hybrid ORs across the nation is on the rise. The opportunity to save time and money, coupled with the prospect of developing a more efficient profit model, make the development of a Hybrid OR attractive for any facility.


Join members of the Hybrid OR Steering Committee at the Hybrid OR Town Hall discussion. Bring your questions and learn from their experiences as they share what they would have done differently and the changes they have made since opening their first hybrid OR. 


Topics include

  • Training staff on new equipment
  • Robots working alongside humans
  • Contracting service and preventative maintenance providers to reduce your hybrid OR down time
  • Radiation safety in the hybrid OR and tracking exposure
  • Focusing on quality and efficiency while optimizing your hybrid OR suite

Panelists:

  • Julie L. Hudson DNP RN CNOR NEA-BC, Assistant Hospital Operations Executive-Perioperative, University of Kentucky HealthCare
  • Sherry Rogers, Director of Robotics, Emory Healthcare
  • Michelle Larson, D.N.P., R.N., N.E.-B.C., Nurse Administrator, Mayo Clinic 
  • Jeff Robinson, MSN, RN, OR Manager, Mayo Clinic
  • Rachel Meyer, RN, Unit Director, CVT and Hybrid OR, Emory Saint Joseph's Hospital

Moderators:

  • Karen Ferris, MSN, RN, CNOR, OR Manager, Vanderbilt University Medical Center
  • Angeline Butler, MSN, MHSA, BHSA, RN, CCRN-P, Unit Director, Emory Saint Joseph's Hospital

Tuesday, October 18

6:30 am - 6:30 pm
Registration
Sponsored by:
   
6:30 am - 8:00 am
Room: Aurora B-D
Elizabeth J. Casey, MSN, RN, CNOR, Senior Vice President of Operations, Surgical Solutions
Walter Keith, AVP of Business Development, Surgical Solutions
Sponsored by:
   

Unlocking the mystery of SPD and forming team relationships within the OR and SPD areas is vital in ensuring quality, safety, outcomes, cost, and efficiencies. Perioperative services have become a complexed department where clinical areas must coordinate technical task to ensure the surgical and procedural patients receive safe competent care.

Learning Objectives:
  • Describe at least two cultural change elements to assist in improving the relationship between OR and SPD teams.
  • Identify the tools needed to provide a transformation platform to assist SPD team members to refocus their work on patient driven outcomes that their work impacts.
  • Describe one cultural change element that will be formulated into a team SMART goal for both SPD and OR departments because of the learnings.
Gregg Smith, GONE, Helia Care, Inc.
Sponsored by:
   

Learn how to improve Operating Room efficiencies with Helia Connect.® The platform will speed the management of the delivered order process and free valuable staff for patient care or other critical responsibilities. 

Learning Objectives:
  • Define the bill-only process.
  • Define the cost of this manual process.
  • Describe how to fix the situation.
8:15 am - 9:15 am
Room: Summit 6-7
Breakout Session, General Interest, General Interest Track
LuAnn Landis, BSN, RN, CNOR, Nurse Manager for Quality, Safety, and Patient Experience, BayCare Health Systems
Sponsored by:
   

OR Managers tasked with orchestrating a major product conversion often face difficult challenges. In this presentation, LuAnn Landis, BSN, RN, CNOR, Nurse Manager for Quality, Safety, and Patient Experience at BayCare Health Systems, will identify the logistics and resources necessary for a successful product change, and give insight into methods to maintain staff compliance after conversion.

Learning Objectives:
  • Identify the logistics and resources necessary for a product change.
  • Recognize strategies for a safer workplace environment.
  • Learn methods to gain and maintain staff compliance.
8:15 am - 9:15 am
Room: Colorado C
Breakout Session, New Manager, Operations, New Manager Track
Stephanie S. Davis, MSHA, RN, CNOR, CSSM, VP of Surgical Services, Operations and Service Lines Group, Davis Perioperative Consulting

Working in healthcare offers lots of opportunity to reinvent yourself. But good jobs do not often fall in our laps. Throughout your career, you can plot your path and make a conscience effort to position yourself as the type of leader that is considered a top performer and to whom the opportunities for advancement come your way. This takes dedication and thoughtful consideration. Listen to a presentation that will give you the tips you need to work your way into the best job for your unique skills.

Learning Objectives:
  • Examine your current position in your career progression.
  • Explain the active steps you can take now to make yourself more marketable.
  • Describe how finding the perfect job fit will bring you job satisfaction.
8:15 am - 9:15 am
Room: Crest 1-2
Breakout Session, ASC Leader Summit, Data Mining, Infection Control, Outpatient, Regulations/Legislation, ASC Leader Summit
Lisa Berus, MSN, MEd, RN, CASSPT, CNAMB, CAIP, Senior Director, Clinical Education and Training, SCA Health
Katie Boston-Leary, PhD, MBA, MHA, RN, NEA-BC, CCTP, Director of Nursing Programs, American Nurses Association Inc.
Abigail Carlson, MD, Medical Officer, Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

The ambulatory surgery infection preventionist (IP) performs vital surveillance and data collection. It is important for the IP to conduct regular audits of infection prevention area such as hand hygiene, safe injection practices, and cleaning and disinfection. If a post-operative surgical site infection is identified, the IP must develop a plan to complete a thorough investigation and use data to identify trends. This presentation will describe how to prioritize the infection prevention surveillance focus areas in the ambulatory surgery center (ASC). This will include a review of sample audit tools and a surgical site infection investigation form. It will conclude with communication of surveillance findings to healthcare workers, regulatory agencies, and the governing body of the ASC.

Learning Objectives:
  • Develop audit procedures for infection prevention strategies in the ASC.
  • Describe the critical components of post-operative surgical site infection investigations.
  • Analyze infection prevention audit data.
8:15 am - 9:15 am
Room: Summit 8-9
Finance, Business/Finance, Breakout Session, Operations, Business/Finance Track
Mihye Kim, BSN, RN, CNAMB, CNOR, CPT, AN, Perioperative Clinical Nurse Specialist at Tripler Army Medical Center, Honolulu, HI and Captain, U.S. Army Nurse Corps
Christy Anne Mitchell, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Daniel K. Inouye Graduate School of Nursing
Jesse Rivera-Rosario, BSN, RN, CNOR, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Daniel K. Inouye Graduate School of Nursing

The Balanced Scorecard (BSC) aimed to increase awareness of surgical supply costs among surgeons performing single-level Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusions (TLIF) to determine if there is a correlation between increased knowledge and decreased costs. Each participant received a tailored, biweekly report displaying their median surgical supply costs, the group average, and group best. The report included a list of five items that were the most significant contributors to surgical supply costs. An electronic dashboard exhibiting anonymous surgical supply costs data for all participants was included with the BSC report to reflect performance trends and allow peer comparison. Patient length of stay and 30-day readmission data were collected to evaluate project influence on patient outcomes.

Learning Objectives:
  • Define the lack of surgical supply cost awareness among surgeons and its impact on spending.
  • Discuss the Balanced Scorecard’s (BSC) influence on surgical supply selection and decreased intraoperative costs.
  • Assess the value of surgeons as key drivers for value-based care initiatives.
8:15 am - 9:15 am
Room: Crest 3-5
Breakout Session, Clinical/Education, Evidence Based Practice, Patient Care, Clinical/Education Track
Nicole Hoke, MSN, RN, CCNS, CCRN, Associate Chief Nurse Officer, Periop/Procedural Nursing, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
Robyn Strauss, ACNS-BC, RN, MSN, WCC, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania

Perioperative and cardiothoracic (CT) ICU RNs from a hospital with 1,600 CT and 140 heart/lung transplants per year identified the need to reduce deep tissue pressure injuries (DTPI) by developing a collaborative out-of-the box protocol to prophylactically protect patients’ sacrum prior to surgery.

And because DTPIs result in longer length of stay, increased patient discomfort leading to decreased mobility, decreased patient satisfaction, and higher costs (up to $43,000 per DTPI), RNs recognized an opportunity to develop workflows to improve RN practice and patient care.

The protocol was used for all patients meeting the agreed-upon criteria. There was a significant decrease in the incidence of postoperative sacral DPTIs, from 2.3% to 0%; an estimated 1,510 bed days saved; and estimated $1.4 million dollars saved annually. There have been zero DTPIs within the first five days of surgery, and these results have been sustained since 2016. CT patient satisfaction for RN communication remains at 91.4%. Due to the sustained success in the CT population, this protocol is being implemented for high-risk patients. The innovative strategy to prophylactically reduce DTPI is cost effective and replicable. Keys to success were teamwork, creative thinking, and prioritizing high-quality care.

Learning Objectives:
  • Identify vulnerable patient populations that could benefit from pressure reducing therapies.
  • Identify workflows that will improve deep tissue pressure injury prevalence within the OR.
  • Gain an advanced knowledge and understanding of tools that can be implemented for the standardization of care regarding skin assessments.
8:15 am - 9:15 am
Room: Colorado B
Trending Topics, Leadership/Regulatory, Staffing/Retention, Breakout Session, Leadership/Regulatory Track
Jennifer Misajet, MHA, BSN, RN, CNOR, CSSM, System Chief Nursing Officer/VP of Operations, Saint Alphonsus Health System

With the significant turnover in nursing leadership today, mentors and role models may be scarce in the workplace. Education and training may be aimed at front-line caregivers or even be medical surgical leader-focused. Education and management development programs may have been put on hold or canceled as pandemic priorities caused resources to be reassigned. Even experienced managers in a new environment need orientation to the processes and culture of the new organization.


Implementing a formalized buddy program provides new nurse managers a vital peer support person to navigate the world of management. Developing a core set of competencies and modules provides the structure for the mentor and mentee. Components of the buddy program can include: Transitioning from peer to leader; time management; coaching/discipline; financial/budgeting and more. 


Perioperative services do so many things differently from other care settings. It is vital to have a trusted peer and a supportive leader to ensure success, satisfaction and decreased turnover. This can roll up to a larger manager mentor program across a hospital, healthcare system or in the ambulatory setting as well.

Learning Objectives:
  • Describe how to implement a formalized buddy program.
  • Describe the key components to developing a buddy system.
  • Describe examples leaders can implement to mentor new managers.
8:15 am - 9:15 am
Room: Colorado D
PACU Manager Summit, PACU/Post-Op Education, Staffing/Retention, Breakout Session, PACU Manager Summit
Moderator — Dr. Carol Pehotsky, DNP, RN, CPAN, ACNS-BC, NEA-BC, Associate Chief Nursing Officer, Surgical Services and Senior Director, Surgical Nursing, Cleveland Clinic
Lydia G. Casteel, MSN, RN, CCRN, Director of Nursing, Surgical Services, WellStar Paulding Hospital
Katherine Houle, MSN, RN, CPAN, Manager, PeriAnesthesia, CRNA, Sedated Imaging, Gillette Children's Specialty Healthcare
Lynn Nolan, MSN, RN, CPAN, CAPA, NEA-BC, Director of Perioperative Services, Glenbrook Hospital, NorthShore University HealthSystem
Vicki Yfantis, MSN, RN, ANP-BC, CPAN, CAPA, Director PACU, Pre-Op, PST, Suburban Hospital

From staff allocation to pain management, your day is filled with judgment calls. Wouldn’t it be nice if you had your own sounding board? Now is your chance! During the “Ask-Me-Anything” panel, you will have access to accomplished postoperative patient care leaders who will share their lessons learned and secrets for success. Take advantage of this opportunity to have your questions answered by this distinguished panel of PACU experts.

Learning Objectives:
  • Discuss current leadership concepts for management of the post-anesthesia care unit.
  • Describe tactics to stay current on management techniques for successful teams.
  • Identify new systems for providing safe, high-quality care for pre and post-anesthesia patients.
9:30 am - 10:30 am
Room: Summit 6-7
General Interest, Breakout Session, Sterile Processing, Infection Control, Process Improvement, General Interest Track
Kyle Abrams, CHL, CRCST, Principle Consultant, STERIS
John Kimsey, Vice President Processing Optimization and Customer Success, STERIS
Sponsored by:
   

Need to improve your sterile processing department’s performance? Even if you don’t, this session is for you! Join our sterile processing simulation for a day in the life of an SPD technician! As an audience member, you’ll work as a team attempting to process the day’s instrument trays before the clock runs out! Experience the challenges and fun of being an active participant as we provide you with the blueprint for improving your sterile processing department’s performance. This is unlike any breakout session you’ve ever been to!

Learning Objectives:
  • Describe how to design processes and leadership routines to achieve 100% complete instrument trays.
  • Describe how to ensure 100% of their instrument trays are clean and sterile. No more bioburden!
  • Discuss how to utilize the principles of Continuous Flow to ensure instruments are on-time every time.
9:30 am - 10:30 am
Room: Colorado C
Staffing/Retention, New Manager, Breakout Session, New Manager Track
Denis Albaladejo, MSN, RN, MBA, CNOR, CSSM, Clinical Director, Torrance Memorial Medical Center
Elizabeth Austin Evans DNP, RN, CNOR, Advanced Clinical Nurse Educator, B.E. Smith/AMN
Sponsored by:
   

The perioperative environment is a dynamic environment that requires clear roles for facilitating positive teamwork and a healthy standard workflow. A clear and concise decision tree for discerning role expectations and responsibility is key to a positive outcome. Clinical scenarios will be examined from member experiences using the Manager/Educator decision tree to reinforce the roles and responsibilities for a positive outcome. Perioperative managers and clinical nurse educators each bring unique talents to the perioperative team in their quest to develop high-functioning teams. Perioperative manager and educator roles, functions, institutional expectations, and department goals/vision using positive communication channels will be explored. Managers and educators struggle with the differences and similarities between the roles. Clear definitions and a method for determining the roles and responsibilities is key to effective teamwork. Expert nurse managers and clinical nurse educators will explore and share a decision tree method for discerning the root of common issues for maximum team goal attainment. A live demonstration and evaluation of scenarios from attendees and the presenters’ experience will be reviewed using the Management/Educator decision tree.

Learning Objectives:
  • Identify and discuss the roles, job description boundaries, and responsibilities of managers and educators.
  • Discuss ways to move forward in your role to foster a healthy collegial work environment promoting teamwork and best practice for staff.
  • Identify tools to promote collegiality between management and education roles.
9:30 am - 10:30 am
Room: Crest 1-2
Data Mining, Breakout Session, Infection Control, ASC Leader Summit, Outpatient, Regulations/Legislation, ASC Leader Summit
Lisa Berus, MSN, MEd, RN, CASSPT, CNAMB, CAIP, Senior Director, Clinical Education and Training, SCA Health
Katie Boston-Leary, PhD, MBA, MHA, RN, NEA-BC, CCTP, Director of Nursing Programs, American Nurses Association Inc.
Abigail Carlson, MD, Medical Officer, Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

The ambulatory surgery infection preventionist (IP) performs vital surveillance and data collection. It is important for the IP to conduct regular audits of infection prevention area such as hand hygiene, safe injection practices, and cleaning and disinfection. If a post-operative surgical site infection is identified, the IP must develop a plan to complete a thorough investigation and use data to identify trends. This presentation will describe how to prioritize the infection prevention surveillance focus areas in the ambulatory surgery center (ASC). This will include a review of sample audit tools and a surgical site infection investigation form. It will conclude with communication of surveillance findings to healthcare workers, regulatory agencies, and the governing body of the ASC.

Learning Objectives:
  • Develop audit procedures for infection prevention strategies in the ASC.
  • Describe the critical components of post-operative surgical site infection investigations.
  • Analyze infection prevention audit data.
9:30 am - 10:30 am
Room: Summit 8-9
Kate Ulrich, MS, BSN, RN, NEA-BC, Assistant Vice President of Nursing, Perioperative Services, Duke Health

Escalating costs in today’s perioperative environment are a significant concern, undermining the financial viability of many hospitals amid the COVID pandemic. Hospitals are facing extraordinary challenges effectively balancing the cost of clinical care, managing escalating medical supply costs, and addressing capacity issues with higher acuity and increased co-morbidities among patients than ever before. Creating a multifaceted approach to address these issues requires “all hands on deck” and with innovative and integrated solutions lead collectively by nurses, physicians, and hospital administrators. Effective cost management strategies in the perioperative environment require a strong foundation to ensure quality patient care outcomes remain at the forefront while effectively managing the cost of care. 


Attend this session to learn methodologies to effectively transition elective outpatient procedures from a traditional inpatient OR environment to an ambulatory setting.

Learning Objectives:
  • Describe three key metrics to transition cases to outpatient environment.
  • Demonstrate three tools for project management success.
  • Describe effective strategies for stakeholder engagement.
9:30 am - 10:30 am
Room: Crest 3-5
Infection Control, Clinical/Education, Breakout Session, Trending Topics, Clinical/Education Track
Susan Klacik, BS, CRCST, CIS, SHL, ACE, FCS, Clinical Educator, Healthcare Sterile Processing Association (HSPA)
Terra Kremer, BS, Senior Program Manager of Microbiological Quality & Sterility Assurance, Device Processing, Johnson & Johnson

Point-of-Use treatment is a hot topic. It is such an important part of infection prevention that accreditation surveyors are observing this step after surgical procedures. The central part of point-of-use treatment is to moisten and remove gross soil at the location of use to help prevent organic material and debris from drying on instruments. Dried soil on surgical instrument surfaces can affect the efficacy of subsequent cleaning, disinfection and sterilization processes, and promotes the formation of a dry biofilm. These biofilms are difficult to remove and are more resistant to inactivation by steam sterilization than a hydrated biofilm. The time and transport method from the point-of-use treatment until the thorough cleaning process begins differs from each facility.


In 2021, research was conducted on the solubility of dried soil on reusable medical devices. This groundbreaking research supports the scientific justification for point-of-use treatment and provides guidance for environmental conditions and time constraints when transporting soiled surgical instrumentation. This presentation will show the results of the research project, with data demonstrating the change in solubility of dried soil on reusable medical devices when exposed to various time, temperature, and humidity ranges. These conditions mimic what the device may experience as it is transported from point of use and waiting for decontamination.

Learning Objectives:
  • Discuss point-of-use treatment on surgical instrumentation.
  • Discuss the research project demonstrating the change in solubility of dried soil on reusable medical devices.
  • Assess the change in solubility of dried soil on reusable medical devices when exposed to various time, temperature, and humidity ranges.
9:30 am - 10:30 am
Room: Colorado B
Trending Topics, Breakout Session, Leadership/Regulatory, Staffing/Retention, Covid-19/Pandemic Response, Leadership/Regulatory Track
Thomas Kraus, MSN, RN, CNOR, Clinical Network Educator, Honor Health Thompson Peak Medical Center

A national nursing shortage could not have hit the United States (US) at a worse time. Registered Nurse (RN) shortages have been predicted for a long time with little or no action plan. The nursing shortage is due to several factors. However, two key factors come to mind: RN attrition and the absence of a national strategic plan to educate the next generation of registered nurses. Another key factor contributing to the nursing shortage is the national explosion of new joint venture healthcare and outpatient surgery centers to help surgeons bridge the financial gap created by decreasing healthcare reimbursements. Add to the fact that a worldwide Covid epidemic has nurses being offered lucrative short-term nursing jobs with an insane amount of money, travel, and rewards. One way HonorHealth Thompson Peak and Sonoran Crossing Medical Centers have put a dent in the void within the operating room is to partner with an international RN job placement company which prepares an aspiring RN from abroad to be successful in the US.


The international nurse arrives in the US having already successfully passed the National Council Licensing Examination (NCLEX). In addition to passing the NCLEX, the national job placement company reviews and educates the international nurse on the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN) standards and recommended practices in caring for the surgical patient in the operating room.


After hiring an international nurse, HonorHealth orients and educates the nurse to help familiarize the RN with policies and procedures specific to its network. HonorHealth has found that many, if not all, international nurses are unfamiliar with the high touch, highly technological equipment and instrumentation. At HonorHealth, we have spent a good amount of time training the international nurses in technology along with nursing practices to help fill the void during the current nursing shortage.

Learning Objectives:
  • Describe the onboarding process for international nurses.
  • Describe ways to effectively educate the policies and procedures at your facility.
  • Describe how the international nurse can commit to best patient care and outcomes.
9:30 am - 10:30 am
Room: Colorado D
PACU Manager Summit, Breakout Session, PACU/Post-Op Education, Trending Topics, Regulations/Legislation, PACU Manager Summit
Dennis Wichern, MBA, Partner, Prescription Drug Consulting

As a result of the opioid crisis, no medical profession has come under more scrutiny, regulatory oversight, and increased legal risk than ORs, ASCs, or PACUs, which use opioid medications daily. This session will link the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) specific role in the practice of medicine and controlled substances in light of the opioid epidemic. Through a review of federal law, federal recordkeeping regulations, and actual case studies, attendees will learn what a DEA controlled substance audit is, what to expect, and how to prepare for a DEA inspection. The goal of this session is to provide information on the DEA’s controlled substance recordkeeping requirements to prevent negative government interaction and possible civil monetary fines.

Learning Objectives:
  • Define DEA's specific authorities and role in relation to controlled substances and the practice of medicine.
  • Identify important controlled substance recordkeeping requirements and techniques to prepare for a DEA audit.
  • Recognize practical strategies and tips to reduce opioid risk while complying with federal law.
10:30 am - 4:30 pm
Networking Event
Jennifer Kerestes, MSN, RN, MBA, CAPA, Sr. Clinical Education Manager, Ansell Healthcare Products LLC
Sponsored by:
   

Join this presentation to learn more about preventing medical errors and never events in the perioperative setting. A review of the current evidence surrounding preventable error risk and best practices in the perioperative environment will be discussed. Identification of potential strategies for risk reduction focused on errors with medication delivery, specimen handling and site marking will be explained. Experiences and best practices will be shared based on current industry recommendations and standards. Tips for successful implementation, training and long-term compliance will be presented for immediate application in your facility.

Learning Objectives:
  • Review current evidence and practice challenges surrounding preventable error risks in the perioperative setting.
  • Discuss recommended strategies for risk reduction focused on medication errors, specimen handling errors and other never events such as wrong site surgery.
  • Share experiences and best practices for successful implementation and training of preventative safety products, processes and tips for long-term compliance.
Kathy Warye, Founder, Infection Prevention Partners
Sponsored by:
   
Learning Objectives:
  • Describe the contribution of airborne contamination to SSI.
  • Compare the primary OR ventilation concepts.
  • Discuss how visualization of airborne contamination can enhance training and compliance.
Stacey Leadbeater, Senior Product Manager, Hospital IQ
Sponsored by:
   

Managing the OR block schedule is inherently complex. Add in the challenge of right-sizing booked case time against the overall schedule and the goal of creating an efficient and optimized OR is nearly impossible. Cases running longer than booked time create delays, those done in less time leave the OR open but unused. Both translate to decreased patient and staff satisfaction, misallocated resources, and lost revenue. 


Giving schedulers tools to more accurately schedule cases or identify potential issues based on predictions that incorporate patient data, not just historical averages, leads to a more accurate OR schedule. Join us in Booth #213 to learn how you can enhance block management practices and scheduling workflows to unlock OR capacity. 


Learning Objectives:
  • Discover how to look beyond historical case length averages by leveraging data science to accurately predict case length and improve scheduling accuracy at your organization.
  • Create visibility in block management and simplify the process of booking OR time.
  • Consider tools that easily incorporate case length predictions into your daily workflows with early identification of cases not booked for enough time or booked for far too much time.
Elizabeth Stocum, BSN, RN, CNOR, Product Marketing Manager, LeanTaaS
Sponsored by:
   

Accessibility and efficient use of operating room time is a common challenge, creating conflict between perioperative nurse leaders and surgeons. Typical “best practices” and benchmark data often fail to identify and address underlying issues related to scheduling and utilization challenges.

Learning Objectives:
  • Explain the challenges that present when using EHR reporting tools for key operational decision-making.
  • Describe the value of adopting a culture of data transparency and metric standardization.
  • Evaluate the benefits of implementing tools built on prescriptive and predictive data analytics into the perioperative workflow.
Lena Fogle, BSN, RN, CNOR, Senior Director, Procedural Portfolio Marketing and Global Clinical Solutions, STERIS
Sponsored by:
   

Despite diligent efforts to ensure all items used during a surgical procedure are accounted for prior to skin closure, retained surgical items (RSIs) remain a top technology hazard, and surgical sponges are the most common RSIs. This continuing education activity will review the challenges associated with manual counting procedures, describe technologies available to supplement manual counts, and offer strategies for incorporating adjunct technologies into practice to improve patient safety.

Learning Objectives:
  • Identify challenges associated with manual counting of surgical sponges.
  • Describe adjunct technologies available to supplement counting procedures with the goal of preventing RSIs.
  • Discuss strategies for combining adjunct technologies with manual counting procedures to minimize the risk of RSIs and improve patient safety in healthcare facilities.
11:00 am - 12:00 pm
Room: Aurora Exhibit Hall
11:15 am - 12:30 pm
11:30 am - 12:00 pm
Room: Aurora Exhibit Hall
Technology Presentations

Demand for Hybrid ORs across the nation is on the rise. The opportunity to save time and money, coupled with the prospect of developing a more efficient profit model, make the development of a Hybrid OR attractive for any facility.


Join members of the Hybrid OR Steering Committee at the Hybrid OR Town Hall discussion. Bring your questions and learn from their experiences as they share what they would have done differently and the changes they have made since opening their first hybrid OR. 


Topics include

  • Training staff on new equipment
  • Robots working alongside humans
  • Contracting service and preventative maintenance providers to reduce your hybrid OR down time
  • Radiation safety in the hybrid OR and tracking exposure
  • Focusing on quality and efficiency while optimizing your hybrid OR suite

Panelists:

  • Julie L. Hudson DNP RN CNOR NEA-BC, Assistant Hospital Operations Executive-Perioperative, University of Kentucky HealthCare 
  • Sherry Rogers, Director of Robotics, Emory Healthcare
  • Michelle Larson, D.N.P., R.N., N.E.-B.C., Nurse Administrator, Mayo Clinic 
  • Jeff Robinson, MSN, RN, OR Manager, Mayo Clinic
  • Rachel Meyer, RN, Unit Director, CVT and Hybrid OR, Emory Saint Joseph's Hospital

Moderators:

  • Karen Ferris, MSN, RN, CNOR, OR Manager, Vanderbilt University Medical Center
  • Angeline Butler, MSN, MHSA, BHSA, RN, CCRN-P, Unit Director, Emory Saint Joseph's Hospital
Benjamin Fryer, Principal Scientist, Advanced Sterilization Products (ASP)
Anastasia Johnson, MSN, APRN, ACNS-BC, CNOR, CCSVP, CNS-CP(E), Clinical Education Consultant, Advanced Sterilization Products (ASP)
Sponsored by:
   

In just a few short years, biological indicators and process challenge devices have undergone a revolution in both the speed at which their results can be read, as well as the manner in which they are used in the Operating Room & Sterile Processing workflows. Department leaders from Perioperative managers and directors to circulating nurses, as well as Sterile Processing professionals now have a number of options before them for improving their inventory processes, updating outdated policies, and implementing industry leading best practices related to instrument sterilization. This presentation will outline the collaborative power of aligning OR & SPD teams around biological indicator monitoring that supports surgical throughput and provides the necessary tools for holistic quality management across the continuum of surgical care.

Learning Objectives:
  • Define biological indicators (Bis) and their role in sterility assurance.
  • Review the history of BI technology and the current trends in the industry.
  • Identify the impact of sterility assurance programs on the Operating Room.
Karen Hoffmann, RN, MS, CIC, FAPIC, FSHEA, Infection Preventionist Consultant, Nuvo Medillum
Sponsored by:
   

Air disinfection is achieved by ventilation. Ventilation is one of the most important means to control cross transmission by removing or diluting bacteria, viruses and mold-laden aerosols from occupied spaces. This session will describe an upper room ultra-violet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) air disinfection system. This UVGI system is a proven adjunct to existing HVAC resulting in improved ventilation, and reducing environmental contamination and infectious outcomes.  

Learning Objectives:
  • Describe the risks associated with pathogen contaminated air.
  • Describe the safety and efficacy considerations of UVGI.
  • Identify how implementing UVGI enhances existing HVAC air disinfection.
12:00 pm - 12:30 pm
Room: Booth 1000
Amy Williams, DNP, RN, CPAN, CSPDT, CSPM, Senior Manager for Clinical Education Compliance, STERIS Instrument Management Services (IMS)
Sponsored by:
   

This course will teach you about biofilm, how it forms, and the stages of its development. In addition, you will learn where to look for biofilm, complications that stem from it, how to prevent it from forming, and its unique treatment.

Learning Objectives:
  • Describe the stages of biofilm development.
  • Identify where to look for biofilm.
  • Discuss how to prevent biofilm from forming.
Penny Steele, RN, CNOR, CCSVP, Senior Consultant Clinical Operations, Cardinal Health
Sponsored by:
   

Infection prevention for patients and medical staff has taken on greater significance today in the face of new pathogens and multi-drug resistant organisms, as well as the increased economic pressures to reduce healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). This course will provide an overview of common healthcare-acquired infections and will offer practical information for appropriately following infection prevention practices that healthcare workers can use to protect themselves and their patients. 

Learning Objectives:
  • Understand the most prevalent types of healthcare associated infections and strategies for preventing them.
  • Describe the modes of transmission of pathogenic organisms and how transmission of infectious agents can occur in a healthcare setting.
  • Discuss how to integrate infection prevention solutions into clinical care areas to help reduce transmission of pathogenic agents.
Trisha Skirvin BSN, RN, WCC, Regional Clinical Manager, Dabir Surfaces Inc.
Sponsored by:
   

Hospital-Acquired Pressure Injuries (HAPIs) can result from the cumulative effect of exposure to prolonged pressure and can occur across the acute care continuum. These pressure injuries are preventable clinical adverse events that can result in unnecessary suffering and diminished quality-of-life for patients while increasing costs for providers. In addition, secondary infections that often accompany pressure injuries can also be life threatening to the patient. This course seeks to discuss the impact of hospital-acquired pressure injuries on the U.S. health care system, describe risk factors and the different risk-assessment tools available, and present interventions including new technology to help reduce the risk of pressure injuries in the perioperative setting.  

Learning Objectives:
  • Discuss the impact of hospital acquired pressure injuries on the U.S. health care system.
  • Describe risk factors and the different risk-assessment tools available.
  • Describe interventions including new technology to help reduce the risk of pressure injuries in the perioperative setting.
Stacey Leadbeater, Senior Product Manager, Hospital IQ
Sponsored by:
   

Managing the OR block schedule is inherently complex. Add in the challenge of right-sizing booked case time against the overall schedule and the goal of creating an efficient and optimized OR is nearly impossible. Cases running longer than booked time create delays, those done in less time leave the OR open but unused. Both translate to decreased patient and staff satisfaction, misallocated resources, and lost revenue.


Giving schedulers tools to more accurately schedule cases or identify potential issues based on predictions that incorporate patient data, not just historical averages, leads to a more accurate OR schedule. Join us in Booth #213 to learn how you can enhance block management practices and scheduling workflows to unlock OR capacity. 

Learning Objectives:
  • Discover how to look beyond historical case length averages by leveraging data science to accurately predict case length and improve scheduling accuracy at your organization.
  • Create visibility in block management and simplify the process of booking OR time.
  • Consider tools that easily incorporate case length predictions into your daily workflows with early identification of cases not booked for enough time or booked for far too much time.
Lena Fogle, BSN, RN, CNOR, Senior Director, Procedural Portfolio Marketing and Global Clinical Solutions, STERIS
Sponsored by:
   

Despite diligent efforts to ensure all items used during a surgical procedure are accounted for prior to skin closure, retained surgical items (RSIs) remain a top technology hazard, and surgical sponges are the most common RSIs. This continuing education activity will review the challenges associated with manual counting procedures, describe technologies available to supplement manual counts, and offer strategies for incorporating adjunct technologies into practice to improve patient safety.

Learning Objectives:
  • Identify challenges associated with manual counting of surgical sponges.
  • Describe adjunct technologies available to supplement counting procedures with the goal of preventing RSIs.
  • Discuss strategies for combining adjunct technologies with manual counting procedures to minimize the risk of RSIs and improve patient safety in healthcare facilities.
12:45 pm - 1:15 pm
Room: Theater 2
Thomas Kraus, MSN, RN, CNOR, Clinical Network Educator, Honor Health Thompson Peak Medical Center
Sponsored by:
   

Retained surgical items (RSI) remain the most frequently reported sentinel event to the Joint Commission with surgical sponges recognized as the top retained item. During this presentation, we will discuss the impact of retained surgical sponges (RSS) as well as emerging guidelines, programs, and technology designed to help eliminate this preventable medical error.


Learning Objectives:
  • Discuss the definition, incidence, and contributing factors of RSIs.
  • List the clinical, financial and legal implications of RSIs.
  • Review current practices for prevention of RSIs.
Jennifer Kerestes, MSN, RN, MBA, CAPA, Sr. Clinical Education Manager, Ansell Healthcare Products LLC
Sponsored by:
   

Join this presentation to learn more about preventing medical errors and never events in the perioperative setting. A review of the current evidence surrounding preventable error risk and best practices in the perioperative environment will be discussed. Identification of potential strategies for risk reduction focused on errors with medication delivery, specimen handling and site marking will be explained. Experiences and best practices will be shared based on current industry recommendations and standards. Tips for successful implementation, training and long-term compliance will be presented for immediate application in your facility.

Learning Objectives:
  • Review current evidence and practice challenges surrounding preventable error risks in the perioperative setting.
  • Discuss recommended strategies for risk reduction focused on medication errors, specimen handling errors and other never events such as wrong site surgery.
  • Share experiences and best practices for successful implementation and training of preventative safety products, processes and tips for long-term compliance.
Kathy Warye, Founder, Infection Prevention Partners
Sponsored by:
   
Learning Objectives:
  • Describe the contribution of airborne contamination to SSI.
  • Compare the primary OR ventilation concepts.
  • Discuss how visualization of airborne contamination can enhance training and compliance.
Elizabeth Stocum, BSN, RN, CNOR, Product Marketing Manager, LeanTaaS
Sponsored by:
   

Accessibility and efficient use of operating room time is a common challenge, creating conflict between perioperative nurse leaders and surgeons. Typical “best practices” and benchmark data often fail to identify and address underlying issues related to scheduling and utilization challenges.

Learning Objectives:
  • Explain the challenges that present when using EHR reporting tools for key operational decision-making.
  • Describe the value of adopting a culture of data transparency and metric standardization.
  • Evaluate the benefits of implementing tools built on prescriptive and predictive data analytics into the perioperative workflow.
1:30 pm - 2:00 pm
Room: Booth 1000
Amy Williams, DNP, RN, CPAN, CSPDT, CSPM, Senior Manager for Clinical Education Compliance, STERIS Instrument Management Services (IMS)
Sponsored by:
   

This course will teach you about biofilm, how it forms, and the stages of its development. In addition, you will learn where to look for biofilm, complications that stem from it, how to prevent it from forming, and its unique treatment.

Learning Objectives:
  • Describe the stages of biofilm development.
  • Identify where to look for biofilm.
  • Discuss how to prevent biofilm from forming.
Penny Steele, RN, CNOR, CCSVP, Senior Consultant Clinical Operations, Cardinal Health
Sponsored by:
   

Infection prevention for patients and medical staff has taken on greater significance today in the face of new pathogens and multi-drug resistant organisms, as well as the increased economic pressures to reduce healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). This course will provide an overview of common healthcare-acquired infections and will offer practical information for appropriately following infection prevention practices that healthcare workers can use to protect themselves and their patients. 

Learning Objectives:
  • Understand the most prevalent types of healthcare-associated infections and strategies for preventing them.
  • Describe the modes of transmission of pathogenic organisms and how transmission of infectious agents can occur in a healthcare setting.
  • Discuss how to integrate infection prevention solutions into clinical care areas to help reduce transmission of pathogenic agents.
Karen Hoffmann, RN, MS, CIC, FAPIC, FSHEA, Infection Preventionist Consultant, Nuvo Medillum
Sponsored by:
   

Air disinfection is achieved by ventilation. Ventilation is one of the most important means to control cross transmission by removing or diluting bacteria, viruses and mold-laden aerosols from occupied spaces. This session will describe an upper room ultra-violet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) air disinfection system. This UVGI system is a proven adjunct to existing HVAC resulting in improved ventilation, and reducing environmental contamination and infectious outcomes.  

Learning Objectives:
  • Describe the risks associated with pathogen contaminated air.
  • Describe the safety and efficacy considerations of UVGI.
  • Identify how implementing UVGI enhances existing HVAC air disinfection.
Lena Fogle, BSN, RN, CNOR, Senior Director, Procedural Portfolio Marketing and Global Clinical Solutions, STERIS
Sponsored by:
   

Despite diligent efforts to ensure all items used during a surgical procedure are accounted for prior to skin closure, retained surgical items (RSIs) remain a top technology hazard, and surgical sponges are the most common RSIs. This continuing education activity will review the challenges associated with manual counting procedures, describe technologies available to supplement manual counts, and offer strategies for incorporating adjunct technologies into practice to improve patient safety.

Learning Objectives:
  • Identify challenges associated with manual counting of surgical sponges.
  • Describe adjunct technologies available to supplement counting procedures with the goal of preventing RSIs.
  • Discuss strategies for combining adjunct technologies with manual counting procedures to minimize the risk of RSIs and improve patient safety in healthcare facilities.
2:15 pm - 2:45 pm
Room: Theater 2
Thomas Kraus, MSN, RN, CNOR, Clinical Network Educator, Honor Health Thompson Peak Medical Center
Sponsored by:
   

Retained surgical items (RSI) remain the most frequently reported sentinel event to the Joint Commission with surgical sponges recognized as the top retained item. During this presentation, we will discuss the impact of retained surgical sponges (RSS) as well as emerging guidelines, programs, and technology designed to help eliminate this preventable medical error.

Learning Objectives:
  • Discuss the definition, incidence, and contributing factors of RSIs.
  • List the clinical, financial and legal implications of RSIs.
  • Review current practices for prevention of RSIs.
Benjamin Fryer, Principal Scientist, Advanced Sterilization Products (ASP)
Anastasia Johnson, MSN, APRN, ACNS-BC, CNOR, CCSVP, CNS-CP(E), Clinical Education Consultant, Advanced Sterilization Products (ASP)
Sponsored by:
   

In just a few short years, biological indicators and process challenge devices have undergone a revolution in both the speed at which their results can be read, as well as the manner in which they are used in the Operating Room & Sterile Processing workflows. Department leaders from Perioperative managers and directors to circulating nurses, as well as Sterile Processing professionals now have a number of options before them for improving their inventory processes, updating outdated policies, and implementing industry leading best practices related to instrument sterilization. This presentation will outline the collaborative power of aligning OR & SPD teams around biological indicator monitoring that supports surgical throughput and provides the necessary tools for holistic quality management across the continuum of surgical care.

Learning Objectives:
  • Define biological indicators (Bis) and their role in sterility assurance.
  • Review the history of BI technology and the current trends in the industry.
  • Identify the impact of sterility assurance programs on the Operating Room.
Trisha Skirvin BSN, RN, WCC, Regional Clinical Manager, Dabir Surfaces Inc.
Sponsored by:
   

Hospital-Acquired Pressure Injuries (HAPIs) can result from the cumulative effect of exposure to prolonged pressure and can occur across the acute care continuum. These pressure injuries are preventable clinical adverse events that can result in unnecessary suffering and diminished quality-of-life for patients while increasing costs for providers. In addition, secondary infections that often accompany pressure injuries can also be life threatening to the patient. This course seeks to discuss the impact of hospital-acquired pressure injuries on the U.S. health care system, describe risk factors and the different risk-assessment tools available, and present interventions including new technology to help reduce the risk of pressure injuries in the perioperative setting.  

Learning Objectives:
  • Discuss the impact of hospital acquired pressure injuries on the U.S. health care system.
  • Describe risk factors and the different risk-assessment tools available.
  • Describe interventions including new technology to help reduce the risk of pressure injuries in the perioperative setting.
3:00 pm - 3:30 pm
Room: Booth 1000
Amy Williams, DNP, RN, CPAN, CSPDT, CSPM, Senior Manager for Clinical Education Compliance, STERIS Instrument Management Services (IMS)
Sponsored by:
   

This course will teach you about biofilm, how it forms, and the stages of its development. In addition, you will learn where to look for biofilm, complications that stem from it, how to prevent it from forming, and its unique treatment.

Learning Objectives:
  • Describe the stages of biofilm development.
  • Identify where to look for biofilm.
  • Discuss how to prevent biofilm from forming.
3:15 pm - 4:15 pm
Room: Theater 2
Exhibit Hall, Technology Presentations
Sponsored by:
   

Join your colleagues on the show floor on Tuesday afternoon and hear the latest and greatest developments from our vendor partners. The format is simple – each company will have 10 minutes to give a short presentation about their products or solutions. You get to hear from several companies in a short amount of time. This session is all about efficiency, so grab your glass of sangria, margarita, or iced tea and take a seat!


Presentation times:


3:15 PM – 3:25 PM: Teradek - Wireless Video Solutions that Improve Clinical Workflow Efficiency in the OR

Speaker: Tom Impellizeri, Medical Sales Development Director, Teradek


3:26 PM – 3:36 PM: Brainlab - How Digitally Integrated ORs Can Increase Staff Satisfaction

Speaker: Miranda Cundiff, MBA, Marketing Manager, Digital Health, Brainlab, Inc


3:37 PM – 3:47 PM: Agiliti - Custom Solutions for Laser Rental and Tech-Service Programs

Speaker: Michael Philipovich, Vice President of Surgical Sales, Agiliti


3:48 PM – 3:58 PM: PeriopSim - Perioperative Virtual Simulation & Assessment

Speaker: Angela Robert, CEO, Conquer Experience 


3:59 PM - 4:09 PM: Surgery Exchange - Performance Improvement for Implant and Bill-Only Cases

Speaker: Gerald B. Seery, Vice President, Sales & Marketing, Surgery Exchange


Moderator: Brandon G. Bennett, DNP, APRN, CNOR, CNS-CP, CSSM, CNAMB, NE-BC

CEO, Facilitated Healthcare Transformations

4:30 pm - 5:00 pm
Room: Aurora B-D
Networking Event
5:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Room: Aurora B-D
Covid-19/Pandemic Response, Keynote, Staffing/Retention, Keynotes
Rose Sherman, EdD, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN, Professor Emeritus, Florida Atlantic University
Sponsored by:
   

Covid-19 has been massively disruptive to healthcare systems and the nursing workforce. The life-quake experience with COVID has led nurses to rethink work, their priorities in life, and how they will manage their careers moving forward. Nurse leaders now struggle with unprecedented staffing shortages and high turnover. Perioperative nursing as a specialty has been significantly impacted by the retirements of so many experienced OR nurses. Most nurses entering the workforce today are either Millennials or Generation Z. Retaining these nurses in the perioperative setting will be more challenging with a trend of viewing one's nursing career as "tours of duty" rather than lifetime employment. This session discusses state-of-the-art strategies and tactics to lead, recruit, and retain a very different perioperative workforce.

Learning Objectives:
  • Discuss how the COVID experience has changed the way nurses view their work with implications for recruitment and retention.
  • Describe how Generation Z and Millennial nurses view their careers and what they expect from leaders.
  • Discuss evidence-based leadership strategies and tools you can use to manage during these turbulent times.
6:00 pm - 6:30 pm
7:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Room: Front Range Lawn - Level 1
Sponsored by:
   

Join us for this year's OR Manager's Night. Relax and hang out with your colleagues on a Denver night with plenty drinks, snacks and good times to go around. This highly-attended event is open to all attendees (and their guests) who are looking to enjoy a relaxing night on their 'education vacation' during the conference.


Add a ticket to OR Manager's Night Out during registration for $75. Guest tickets are available for purchase. All guests must be 21+

Wednesday, October 19

6:30 am - 12:30 pm
Registration
Sponsored by:
   
Tim Brendle, DNP, RN, CNOR, NE-BC, Chief Perioperative Operations Officer, Medical University of South Carolina
Jason Harber, GONE, Hospital IQ
Sponsored by:
   

Optimized capacity, properly allocated resources, satisfied staff, and meeting revenue demands of the health system. It’s every perioperative leader's dream. But, it's typically an ongoing and uphill battle, always working towards managing the competing needs of different divisions or service lines, while also maximizing OR utilization and meeting performance expectations. And most perioperative solutions pigeonhole organizations into a one-size-fits-all approach for managing blocks and unused OR time, without considering each hospital or even service lines’ unique structure, goals, or changing circumstances.

 

In this session, we will discuss how a dynamic block management approach gives not just health systems leaders, but also division and service line chiefs the insights to achieve peak perioperative performance. Hear from industry leaders at MUSC and Hospital IQ about how they partnered to apply innovative block management solutions that empower perioperative service lines across the MUSC network.

Learning Objectives:
  • Discuss strategies to identify what block operating model is the best fit for a health system.
  • Describe how and when to adjust block management practices/models to meet evolving priorities.
  • Describe examples of how a leading hospital has applied these practices and the benefits they have seen.
Luis Forero, MHA, Associate Vice President, Strategic Sourcing & Procurement, Rush University Medical Center
Jessica Mody, MHA, Product Director, Procedural Analytics, Vizient Inc.
Learning Objectives:
  • Get the data needed to improve cost reduction strategies.
  • Use financial data to gain buy-in and support from key stakeholders.
  • Establish a clinical partnership with physicians to collaboratively solve problems.
8:45 am - 9:45 am
Room: Summit 6-7
Breakout Session, General Interest, Finance, Staffing/Retention, General Interest Track
Cynthia Burleson, BSC Administration, Brunswick Surgery Center
Sponsored by:
   

Instrument pods can save time in room turnover resulting in enough cumulative time to add on a new surgery per day. Instrument pods increase Central Sterile Processing efficiencies, OR efficiencies and OR productivity. Learn how the instrument pod can eliminate delays, improve productivity and ensure on time starts. Learn how the efficiencies can lead to improved employee satisfaction in both inpatient and outpatient settings.

Learning Objectives:
  • Describe how to use instrument pods to eliminate repetitive chores.
  • Discuss how instrument pods effect OR and SPD efficiencies and improve staff satisfaction.
  • Describe how instrument pods can positively impact the financial bottom line.
8:45 am - 9:45 am
Room: Colorado C
Finance, Breakout Session, New Manager, Budgeting, New Manager Track
Vikram Tiwari, PhD, Associate Professor of Anesthesiology, Biomedical Informatics, Biostatistics and Senior Director, Surgical Analytics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Navigating the complicated structure of healthcare finance and accounting can be overwhelming for new managers of Operating Rooms. Often, managers struggle with questions such as:

·      Do faster turnover of ORs help generate more revenues?

·      If cases take longer than usual in the OR is that a good thing because nursing charges are time-based?

·      Why is it so difficult to know the actual costs?

 

With ever increasing regulatory pressure for transparency in pricing, it is important for OR managers to understand the relationship, as well as the underlying components, between revenues, charges, and costs. These relationships get even more complicated in Inpatient settings due to accumulation of charges from non-OR units.


This presentation, using real examples and data, will attempt to explain that charges are “suggested list prices”; revenues are “realized reimbursements”; Inefficiencies lead to higher costs and eventually higher charges, but not necessarily higher revenues.


Learning Objectives:
  • Describe the differences between revenues, charges, and costs for surgical patients.
  • Discuss Medicare Severity Diagnosis Related Groups (MSDRG) and MSDRG-Weights for Inpatients.
  • Describe the differences between fixed versus variable, and direct versus indirect costs. Discuss the role of inefficiencies in driving up costs (and charges).
8:45 am - 9:45 am
Room: Crest 1-2
Patient Care, Outpatient, Breakout Session, ASC Leader Summit, ASC Leader Summit
Kate Domrzalski, BSN, RN, PACU Nurse Manager, Abington Hospital, Jefferson Health

The goal of “Commit to Sit” is to increase patient satisfaction and nurse-patient communication. The commit to sit initiative will strive to increase OASCAPS scores in the discharge section, while decreasing negative comments about the discharge process during post-op day 1 follow up phone calls.


According to feedback from patients regarding discharge instructions during routine post-op phone calls, the need to improve the overall experience in the same day procedure area was critical to improving patient satisfaction. The phrases used by patients most frequently were " I felt the nurse was rushing me" or " I felt the nurse failed to review important information for my discharge plan. " This potentially could impact 20 patients per day.


Compliance on reviewing discharge instructions varied. The commit to sit project was presented to the unit council and staff nurses were asked to voice their concerns and note any potential barriers to completing the project. Chairs were purchased for easy access for staff. Patient care techs were instructed to answer phones while nurses were committing to sit. Education was completed on all staff members by unit council members.


Data was collected from post op day 1 follow up phone calls, patients answered two survey questions. Bulletin boards were incorporated to explain to patients the project as well as the results of the data collected was placed for staff to see. The survey conducted among the staff nurses revealed a 73% favorable for the project to increase patient's understanding while an 85.7% favorable it would enhance the overall hospital experience.


The 2-question survey collected from patients over a course of 17 weeks and revealed 94.5% overall that the project was being completed and it enhanced the overall hospital experience for the patient. Feedback from patients during the post-op phone calls conducted by the registered nurses in same day procedure unit revealed rare complaints of "feeling rushed" or "unprepared" after discharge since Commit to sit was implemented.


As the project continued the compliance of the nurses increased. Patients and staff found an overall improvement in the hospital experience based upon the data. Nurse compliance and engagement increased from staff to improve the patient's experience in the department increased. Patient's perception of nurse's compassion to their wellbeing had been restored.

Learning Objectives:
  • Discuss the Commit to Sit model for the outpatient population
  • Identify barriers and solutions for implementing the Commit to Sit model.
  • Define the benefits to a strategy like Commit to Sit in the outpatient setting
8:45 am - 9:45 am
Room: Summit 8-9
Trending Topics, Business/Finance, Breakout Session, Operations, Process Improvement, Business/Finance Track
Sherry Rogers, Director of Robotics, Emory Healthcare

By identifying key elements of your operational playbook, team structure, and program awareness, your program can be elevated to operational excellence. Through transparency, process building practices, and boots on the ground leadership, your program can grow and improve exponentially. Our dyad model will pave the way. Fostering relationships with our team members and providers using data has proven to be a turning point in our program. Creating a robust dashboard with "good data in, good data out" to share clinical and financial metrics improves engagement on multiple levels with your providers and staff members. Improvements in communication with a daily wrap sheet during surgery that gives actionable data to leadership, steering committee members, and the team as a whole is a best-in-class tool to move your program forward. These tools will assist in driving your efforts for lean process improvement including standardization and reductions in variability. 

Learning Objectives:
  • Discuss lean processes to increase standardization and reduce variability with actionable tools and follow through.
  • Describe how to build an actionable dashboard with good data in to get good data out.
  • Describe how to build and grow your team with proven best practices of open communication and daily wraps.
8:45 am - 9:45 am
Room: Crest 3-5
Clinical, Evidence Based Practice, Breakout Session, Clinical/Education, Clinical/Education Track
Kay Ball, PhD, RN, CNOR, CMLSO, FAAN, Adjunct Professor/Perioperative Consultant, Otterbein University

Surgical smoke hazards and evacuation have been critical issues since the mid-1980s. Even today, nurses continue to advocate for smoke-free environments. This session will relate the evolution of surgical smoke issues and how nursing’s involvement and the impact of state legislation to create smoke-free perioperative environments continue. Effective and creative solutions to ensure the use of proper smoke evacuation devices will be presented along with the difficult task of changing perioperative practices.

Learning Objectives:
  • Discuss the evolution of smoke-free surgical environments.
  • Describe nursing’s involvement with state legislation on surgical smoke evacuation.
  • Identify the most creative and effective ways to create smoke-free perioperative environments.
8:45 am - 9:45 am
Room: Colorado B
Masters Series, Succession Planning, Staffing/Retention, Breakout Session, Leadership/Regulatory, Leadership/Regulatory Track
Stephanie S. Davis, MSHA, RN, CNOR, CSSM, VP of Surgical Services, Operations and Service Lines Group, Davis Perioperative Consulting
Dr. Donna J. Doyle, DNP, RN, CNOR, NE-BC, Perioperative Consultant, DJD Consulting Services
Dr. Carol Pehotsky, DNP, RN, CPAN, ACNS-BC, NEA-BC, Associate Chief Nursing Officer, Surgical Services and Senior Director, Surgical Nursing, Cleveland Clinic

The World Health Organization’s State of the world’s nursing 2020: investing in education, jobs and leadership report was released in 2020. That same year the World Health Organization designated 2020 as the Year of the Nurse. Unfortunately, this designation and its collision with the COVID-19 pandemic brought about unprecedented attention on nursing. This attention has highlighted the importance of nursing as a profession in caring for populations of people globally during a time in which we are already experiencing a nursing shortage, especially within the perioperative specialty. Perioperative leaders at all levels are needed to mitigate the existing shortage and creative thinking is needed to change the paradigm to grow a pipeline of future nurse leaders. Identification and mentoring of the high potential nurse are strategies to aid in the development of future perioperative nurse leaders. High potential nurses need to be identified early and given entry level leadership positions to hon their skills. Data tells us that approximately 17% of today’s perioperative leaders are over the age of 60 and may one day soon retire. History also tells us that Perioperative leaders are often promoted to the administrative suite due to their business acumen and advanced leadership skills creating more openings.


This session will discuss the importance of succession planning, how to recognize and mentor high potentials, and the importance of utilizing career planning strategies in the development of individual development plans.


*Masters Series

Learning Objectives:
  • Discuss the importance of succession planning and how to recognize high potentials.
  • Discuss strategies in which high potentials can develop leadership competencies.
  • Discuss components of an individual development plan.
8:45 am - 9:45 am
Room: Colorado D
Patient Care, PACU Manager Summit, PACU/Post-Op Education, Breakout Session, PACU Manager Summit
Jordan Fulton, BSN, RN, Registered Nurse/ Case Manager, Texas Tech University
Brittney Williams, RN, Director Surgical Services, City Hospital at White Rock

The easiest way to increase postoperative education and compliance is to provide education preoperatively and in an easy-to-understand format. The BANDAID acronym helps to increase the patients understanding of postoperative teaching. It stands for, B: Bleeding, A: Activity, N: Nausea, Vomiting, D: Diet, A: Acceptable Pain, I: Infection, D: Don'ts. This session will show how the implementation of BANDAID teaching not only increases patient education and compliance, but it also drastically improves patient experience scores. Through the process of adding BANDAID teaching to the preoperative checklist, patients are presented with the information prior to anesthesia in a handout. The nurses verbally discuss each section with the patients, who are given an opportunity to discuss any questions, concerns, etc. The BANDAID teaching is listed on all discharge instructions, and on postop Day 1, patients receive an automated text message reminding them about their education with instructions for callback if needed.

Learning Objectives:
  • Describe discharge instructions that would be easy for patients to understand.
  • Discuss three separate formats of content that should be delivered to patients.
  • Describe how BANDAID is applicable for all surgical patients.
10:00 am - 11:00 am
Room: Summit 6-7
Steven Burmeister, Lead Clinical Solution Architect - Perioperative, Qventus
Jeff Mounzer, Ph.D, Qventus
Sponsored by:
   

OR leaders need to maximize every minute of available OR time, but manual scheduling processes make this nearly impossible to achieve. As a result, schedulers struggle to accommodate competing demands in order to optimize for the right case, at the right time, in the right room. 


But it doesn’t have to be this way. The automation technologies that simplify our everyday lives, such as online booking tools and AI-based personalization, are now available to automate OR scheduling. 


In this session, learn how a leading health system is using AI and automation to unlock OR time weeks in advance, grow high-value case volumes, and improve OR utilization. Also discover how you can reduce workload on schedulers, increase satisfaction for surgeons, and improve the experience for OR teams by automating OR scheduling and outreach. 


Learning Objectives:
  • Learn how you can add two or more cases per OR per month and grow revenue by as much as $15 million per facility.
  • Learn how automation reduces OR scheduling call volume by over 40% and improves case scheduling accuracy.
  • Learn how AI can drive up to a 50% increase in robotic cases.
10:00 am - 11:00 am
Room: Colorado C
New Manager, Covid-19/Pandemic Response, Staffing/Retention, Breakout Session, New Manager Track
Alex Lowery, MBA, Operations Administrator, Mayo Clinic

During this time of global pandemic, one would think that hospital staff would be in their glory, stepping up to fight the good fight and save our communities from this overwhelming disease with altruistic abandon when humanity needs them most. And many have. However, the culture amongst many hospital staff this past year has not been so picturesque.


This has also been a time of much divisiveness, burn out and stress. Hospitals desperate for help have flooded the labor market with money and incentives, trying to recruit nurses from local and national competitors by waving more money at them. Vaccine and masking mandates have pitted employees against their employers. Families have been impacted by lose of wages and even loss of loved ones. Personal finances have been ravaged by hyper-inflation adding to an overwhelming wave of unrelenting stress.


The tsunami of stressors has made it's way into the hearts and minds of our surgical services staff, surfacing as a "Me First" attitude. This session will discuss how to shift staff morale into teamwork, good character and organizational citizenship. Mentor your team to get back to an engaging and supportive culture.

Learning Objectives:
  • Identify contributing factors leading to negativity in your OR team culture.
  • Discuss practical tactics to develop the team culture you want.
  • Describe strategies on creating an engaging and supportive team culture.
10:00 am - 11:00 am
Room: Crest 1-2
ASC Leader Summit, Outpatient, Breakout Session, ASC Leader Summit
Moderator — Beverly Kirchner, BSN, RN, CNOR, CASC, Chief Compliance Officer, SurgeryDirect, LLC
Fawn Esser-Lipp, MBA, BSN, CASC, CNOR, Executive Director, The Surgery Center LLC
Cindy Hess, MSN, RN, FNP-C, CNAMB, Director of Nursing, Northeast Missouri Ambulatory Surgery Center
Tracy Hoeft-Hoffman, MSN, MBA, RN, CASC, Administrator, Heartland Surgery Center
Sponsored by:
   

Ambulatory Surgery Centers (ASCs) have been in operation for over forty years as an alternative care organization for surgery at a lower cost while providing exceptional care. Thanks to technological advancements, ASCs have seen developmental growth, service line growth with the spine, total joint, neurosurgery, and interventional vascular procedures while maintaining original service lines such as cataract surgery, pain management, orthopedic, urology, GYN, GI, and ENT. This program will address what keeps administrators and ASC leaders up at night, regulation changes, developing new service lines, cost containment, patient and employee safety. Asking the experts will give you ideas for solutions and growth in your center. Join the panelists and learn how successful surgery centers handle the day-to-day operational requirements.

Learning Objectives:
  • Discuss medical record documentation, EMR selection, and cyber security.
  • Describe mistakes new ASC administrators might make and how to avoid them.
  • Identify the critical elements of the CMS 2023 Final Rule and implement new requirements.
10:00 am - 11:00 am
Room: Summit 8-9
Breakout Session, Business/Finance, Data Mining, Business/Finance Track
Dan Low, Anesthesiologist, Seattle Children's Hospital
Kayla Reece, RN, Director of Ambulatory Surgery Centers, Interim Business Director Perioperative and Surgical Services, Seattle Children's Hospital
Sponsored by:
   

Adaptive Clinical Management (ACM) is a method to simultaneously learn about and improve a healthcare system. ACM is a structured, iterative process of robust decision-making driven by real-world data captured by electronic medical records (EMR). Barriers to implementation of ACM include not collecting the data, not analyzing the data, not giving leaders and decision makers at the frontline access to the data, and/or failing to use the insights to make decisions. This session will teach all attendees how to overcome these barriers and apply ACM to their units and systems. We will use case studies of hospitals that have used this approach to improve clinical effectiveness, operational efficiency, and equity in the perioperative environment.

Learning Objectives:
  • Define Adaptive Clinical Management (ACM).
  • Identify real-world data elements that can be used to apply ACM tomorrow in your ORs.
  • Describe how to objectively assess if a change you made is improvement or just a change.
Crystal Bricker, MSN, RN, CNOR, Nursing Professional Development Specialist-Perioperative Services, Carle BroMenn Medical Center

Simulation is seen as a valuable educational resource to aid in staff development. This form of education takes time and resources. Without leadership support, the execution of simulation and other hands-on learning activities is not possible. Competing demands for time and resources can present challenges in incorporating this hands-on learning into perioperative education plans. Even when dedicating the time needed to run these activities is difficult to find, there are ways to work hands-on learning into your staffing schedule. Learn how one perioperative department has navigated these challenges. Discover ways to balance time and resources to incorporate simulation. Get take-home tools on how this education modality can improve team dynamics and processes. 

Learning Objectives:
  • Define the different types of hands-on simulation activities.
  • Identify the barriers managers face in incorporating hands-on education for their staff.
  • Discuss strategies to address these barriers and understand the value simulation has on team dynamics.
10:00 am - 11:00 am
Room: Colorado B
Breakout Session, Leadership/Regulatory, Succession Planning, Masters Series, Staffing/Retention, Leadership/Regulatory Track
Stephanie S. Davis, MSHA, RN, CNOR, CSSM, VP of Surgical Services, Operations and Service Lines Group, Davis Perioperative Consulting
Dr. Donna J. Doyle, DNP, RN, CNOR, NE-BC, Perioperative Consultant, DJD Consulting Services
Dr. Carol Pehotsky, DNP, RN, CPAN, ACNS-BC, NEA-BC, Associate Chief Nursing Officer, Surgical Services and Senior Director, Surgical Nursing, Cleveland Clinic

The World Health Organization’s State of the world’s nursing 2020: investing in education, jobs and leadership report was released in 2020. That same year the World Health Organization designated 2020 as the Year of the Nurse. Unfortunately, this designation and its collision with the COVID-19 pandemic brought about unprecedented attention on nursing. This attention has highlighted the importance of nursing as a profession in caring for populations of people globally during a time in which we are already experiencing a nursing shortage, especially within the perioperative specialty. Perioperative leaders at all levels are needed to mitigate the existing shortage and creative thinking is needed to change the paradigm to grow a pipeline of future nurse leaders. Identification and mentoring of the high potential nurse are strategies to aid in the development of future perioperative nurse leaders. High potential nurses need to be identified early and given entry level leadership positions to hon their skills. Data tells us that approximately 17% of today’s perioperative leaders are over the age of 60 and may one day soon retire. History also tells us that Perioperative leaders are often promoted to the administrative suite due to their business acumen and advanced leadership skills creating more openings.


This session will discuss the importance of succession planning, how to recognize and mentor high potentials, and the importance of utilizing career planning strategies in the development of individual development plans.


*Masters Series

Learning Objectives:
  • Discuss the importance of succession planning and how to recognize high potentials.
  • Discuss strategies in which high potentials can develop leadership competencies.
  • Discuss components of an individual development plan.
10:00 am - 11:00 am
Room: Colorado D
PACU Manager Summit, Staffing/Retention, Breakout Session, PACU Manager Summit
Lynn Nolan, MSN, RN, CPAN, CAPA, NEA-BC, Director of Perioperative Services, Glenbrook Hospital, NorthShore University HealthSystem
Vicki Yfantis, MSN, RN, ANP-BC, CPAN, CAPA, Director PACU, Pre-Op, PST, Suburban Hospital

Successfully navigating the transition from peer to manager requires grace, grit, and resilience. Changing relationships, competing priorities, and shifts in care perspective are just a few challenges that test the resolve and stamina of new leaders. Having sound tips and tricks for creating and maintaining resilience is like having a steady pair of hands anchoring the leadership ladder.

Learning Objectives:
  • Discuss tips for successfully navigating the change from peer to leader.
  • Identify strategies for creating and maintaining resilience as a new leader.
  • Discuss useful leadership care perspectives.
11:15 am - 12:15 pm
Room: Aurora B-D
Jeff Whitehorn, LFACHE, ACC, Founder, Whitehorn Coaching and Consulting

The Great Resignation has become one of the most powerful barriers to success for leaders and the teams they lead. What is the first action you can immediately take to stop the exodus of team members? Focus on culture. It’s the foundation for employee retention, and it can be your competitive advantage. Jeff Whitehorn reveals the actions that a leader must take to improve culture in order to help win the battle against the Great Resignation.

Learning Objectives:
  • Identify the three critical aspects of culture where leaders must focus their time and attention first.
  • Discover specific action steps that leaders can implement to improve culture and reduce employee turnover.
  • Develop and commit to your personal action plan that you will execute immediately.
12:15 pm - 12:45 pm