In seeking methods for bringing greater efficiency to the surgical suite, it’s imperative for healthcare professionals to examine each and every protocol, environmental component, and tool. Even with a clear consensus on bringing thoroughness to the evaluation, it’s easy to overlook devices that are so commonplace they’re almost taken for granted.
And yet the potential for dramatic improvements in efficiency often lies with those ubiquitous items.
Improving efficiency in the OR is one of the hallmark goals of SurgiMark as they continue to develop and enhance their signature devices, the Via-Guard suction sets.
The Via-Guard line draws on classic designs of suction devices, but adds vital improvements that improve on ease of use and significantly streamline the supply chain process.
One part of SurgiMark’s successful approach relies on the simplest arithmetic, delivering a single device that takes the place of two different tools in the hospital supply room. Via-Guard devices are equipped with the standard suction tip, but also come with a unique converter sleeve that allows for conversion to Poole mode. Without changing devices, surgeons can change approaches.
For those managing the hospital supply chain, the Via-Guard consolidates inventory in an especially useful manner. When seconds count, selecting the correct suction device couldn’t be easier.
The adaptability of the Via-Guard is notable, but that’s only one facet that improves OR efficiency. The device is also disposable, which means significant time savings and added patient safety. Resources devoted to cleaning and sterilization processes are eliminated, and the risk of SSIs caused by uncleanable suction tools is eliminated.
The Via-Guard SMK 200, for example, is the only disposable Andrews-Pynchon suction device currently cleared for use.
The Via-Guard also boasts a clog-free tip, keeping tissue and other biological matter from impeding the device’s operation.
As most healthcare professionals know well, eliminating the need for processing also drastically reduces the likelihood of the sort of hospital-acquired infections that use up valuable time and resources. The Via-Guard devices save time in preparing for and performing procedures, but they also assist in setting up patients for smoother, safer recoveries.
With OR turnover a prime concern for many facilities, the disposable design of the Via-Guard allows for greater simplicity in managing the tools needed for each case. Even if it’s only one tool on the cart, it’s one of the most critical.
In designing the Via-Guard, SurgiMark was mindful of the fact that surgeons can be easily disenchanted with disposable devices, often finding them flimsy or otherwise subpar. That was a concern worth addressing.
Employing direct knowledge of how surgeons work, SurgiMark designers built sturdiness into the Via-Guard devices, making them feel as comfortable and dependable as comparable suction tools meant to be used over and over.
Just as importantly, consistency of design was incorporated into the line. The Standard Via-Guard suction set and the Classic Via-Guard suction set use the Classic Yankauer handle. This Classic design is closely applied to the Andrews-Pynchon handle — giving all three the same “classic” feel in hand.”
Prioritizing ease-of-use, SurgiMark designers went beyond making the conversion between tips as easy as slipping on a sleeve and locking it into place. They also eliminated any tricky controls in the adjustment of suction levels. Instead, airflow intensity is manipulated with simple hand placement over the patented AdjustFlo handle. It’s another characteristic of the device that makes it immediately adaptable to multiple surgical needs.
The consistency, disposability, and relative simplicity of the devices have made them especially popular for surgeons dealing with high trauma and high volume situations, with many patients coming through the doors quickly. The less time spent wrangling with different tools, the quicker surgeons can turn their full attention to the immediate needs of patients in crisis.
In healthcare, seeking efficiency can’t mean cutting corners. That approach is too likely to be detrimental to the health and safety of patients. The same goal, however, can be accomplished by choosing the right tool in the first place.