Conference Agenda
The 2024 OR Manager Conference program features more than 45 educational sessions designed specifically for perioperative leaders in all facility types. Whether you want to learn which cases should move to outpatient facilities, improve leadership and communication skills, optimize throughput, address staffing creatively, improve your business skills, or learn the keys to success in OR management, OR Manager Conference has you covered!
Ready to Register? Click here to secure your spot!
Sunday, October 27
Learning Objectives:
- Prepare your operating room and central sterile processing department for survey.
- Advance the safety of care delivery with sustainable process improvements.
- Develop strategies to avoid the most commonly cited regulatory deficiencies.
Many of the most problematic Joint Commission standards are applicable to the Operating Room and invasive procedural areas of your hospital. Attend this workshop and learn how to identify each of these issues, highlight how surveyors attempt to assess your compliance with them, and share methods to install bullet-proof solutions to ensure a finding-free survey.
*Pre-Conference Workshop included for Best Value and All-Access pass holders.
Take-home tool: Examples of what surveyors look for when spotting deficiencies that are often right under your nose. Examples of processes that if adopted and sustained assure that you will have a successful regulatory survey and improved quality of care day in and day out.
Open to Reverse Expo participants and participating vendors.
Monday, October 28
Do you have a plan to safeguard your mental health?
Most people have a plan to maintain their car, home, and backyard. There are even plans available to help us care for our pets these days! But do you have a plan to safeguard your mental health? Many individuals rarely, if ever, stop to check-in with themselves about building a resilience plan for elevated living and functioning.
This energizing program features the four keys to sustain resilience:
- Decide
- Connect
- Implement
- Prioritize
Sheila takes program attendees on an invigorating and thought-provoking journey where they are challenged to rethink connection, commitment, and the power of decision to transform how life is experienced day to day. This program celebrates feeling, living, and being empowered to safeguard your mental health.
The audience will walk away refreshed and ready to begin using what they have learned immediately as a result of Sheila’s interactive resilience mapping featured inside the program.
Discover your renewed interest, recharge and get ready for a powerful week of learning and networking!
Learning Objectives:
- Learn how queuing up your environment leads to sustained emotional freedom and high levels of productivity.
- Explore three powerful ways to rethink connection to transform your life and support elevated levels of mental health.
- Discover one impactful move you can make to manage the ever changing OR climate.
- Gain key insights into the most powerful decision you make daily, that will immediately shift energy levels and perspective.
Learning Objectives:
- Apply best practices for structuring operating agreements tailored to Physician-Owned ASCs to ensure legal compliance.
- Explore the intricacies of safe harbor laws to align with operating agreements.
- Explain compliance standards involved in running a Physician-Owned ASC.
This session is tailored for stakeholders involved in running a Physician-Owned ASC. Join us for an informative discussion addressing the critical aspects of crafting operating agreements, complying with safe harbor laws, and meeting regulatory requirements.
Learning Objectives:
- Identify the limitations of current capacity management tools and processes in the OR context.
- Explore the advantages of integrating AI-driven systems for effective capacity and staffing management in the OR.
- Discover new AI innovations tailored for OR efficiency.
- Envision the future of hospital operations with a focus on generative AI in the OR.
The challenge of matching supply with demand in the operating room (OR) is a critical issue. Current tools and processes are often inadequate, leading to staffing shortages and underutilized capacity in OR settings. To address these challenges, it’s essential to overhaul existing methodologies and embrace AI-driven, intelligent, virtual, and distributed systems. Such a transformation not only maximizes OR utilization but also enhances staff satisfaction and patient care. Implementing these innovative solutions can yield significant results - increasing surgical cases, reducing staff burnout, and creating a more efficient and productive OR environment. This session will explore how AI can revolutionize OR operations, from patient scheduling to resource allocation, demonstrating tangible improvements such as a significant increase in the number of surgical cases handled per OR annually.
Learning Objectives:
- Explore innovative approaches aimed at optimizing PACU resources to enhance patient care while extending stays beyond the typical post-operative period.
- Gain insights into protocols to enable PACUs to address capacity limitations, while ensuring patient safety and quality of care during extended stays.
- Demonstrate clinical decision pathways to improve throughput.
Join us for an illuminating discussion on the challenges faced by Post-Anesthesia Care Units (PACUs) concerning capacity constraints and throughput issues. This session focuses on strategies to effectively manage these challenges, particularly in accommodating overnight stays within PACUs.
Constance Tasker, MSN, RN, CNOR, Assistant Manager Quality & Education, Orlando Regional Medical Center, Orlando Health
Learning Objectives:
- Explore the factors prompting hospitals to reduce dependence on traveler nurses.
- Prioritize training programs for new nurse graduates.
- Employ methodologies to reduce reliance on traveler nurses while fostering a skilled, competent nursing workforce.
This session will discuss the transformative shift occurring in healthcare staffing, particularly regarding the diminishing reliance on traveler nurses. Hospitals are increasingly directing their focus towards investing in training programs tailored for new nurse graduates. Join us for an illuminating discussion on this paradigm shift in nursing competencies and workforce strategies.
Learning Objectives:
- Explore the importance of nurses' involvement in legislative advocacy, recognizing their unique perspectives in shaping healthcare policies.
- Examine case studies on enacting legislation to protect health care workers by forming workplace violence committees and prevention policies.
- Discover a variety of tools, resources, and platforms available to nurses to effectively engage in grassroots advocacy to connect with policymakers.
This session will provide an in-depth case study on enacting legislation to protect healthcare workers against violence in the workplace. Join us for an enlightening discussion on the pivotal role nurses play in shaping healthcare policies and driving change from the grassroots level to influence legislative decisions.
Learning Objectives:
- Discover the three pillars of executive presence to apply them to your leadership plan.
- Gain actionable takeaways to enhance your executive presence.
- Embrace the philosophy of lifelong learning as a cornerstone in honing executive presence to evolve in your leadership role.
Executive presence is a fairly new leadership term that has been difficult to describe. Despite the challenges in describing executive presence, it remains a crucial aspect of leadership and is often recognized when observed. As a New Manager, developing executive presence is paramount to success and often involves a combination of self-awareness, interpersonal skills, and continuous learning.
Engage with a seasoned presenter offering insights, strategies, and a holistic perspective on developing executive presence, drawing from practical experiences and success stories.
Learning Objectives:
- Gain insights into the innovative application of robotics to address space constraints.
- Explore the role of robotics in attracting and retaining surgeon talent.
- Explain the impact of robotics on patient outcomes.
Join us for an enlightening discussion on the utilization of robotics in outpatient surgery within the ASC setting. This session will explore the innovative applications of robotics, including space management, surgeon recruitment, enhanced patient recovery, and justifying ROI in the context of outpatient surgical procedures.
Learning Objectives:
• Discuss the role of automation in surgical volume growth.
• Identify key areas for automation implementation.
• Evaluate the impact of automation on patient care and outcomes.
In this session, participants will explore the strategic use of automation to enhance surgical volumes in the operating room. By integrating with EHRs, the Qventus platform leverages AI, machine learning, and behavioral science to predict operational bottlenecks, recommend remedies, and automate processes. This enables care teams to make smarter decisions and optimize patient flow, while reducing cognitive load on team members and improving the patient experience.
Amy Sinder, BS, Director of Operations, SCA Health
Learning Objectives:
- Explore innovative solutions to meet OR demand to optimize workflow.
- Align resources to match OR demand with anesthesia availability.
- Expand the scope of practice for qualified professionals to deliver the highest standard of care in the OR.
In today's healthcare landscape, the shortage of anesthesia staff in the ASC setting has become a pressing concern, resulting in compromised patient care and increased stress on already overburdened perioperative teams. As health teams strive to meet the ever-growing demand for surgical procedures, it is crucial to address this challenge head-on.
This session will delve into the critical issue of anesthesia staff shortages and how to effectively align staffing levels with the demanding needs of the operating room to ensure seamless patient care and operational efficiency.
Lexi Connor, BSN, RN, Clinical Staff RN-Graduate of Nurse Residency Program 2023, Main Line Health Lankenau Hospital
Melissa Murray, RN, Specialty Team Coordinator - Vascular and Reconstructive Plastics, Main Line Health Lankenau Hospital
Simone Nicholson, MSN, RN, CNOR, Nurse Manager Main Operating Room, Main Line Health Lankenau Hospital
Learning Objectives:
• Explore the unique traits, values, and work preferences of various generations present in today's workforce, including Baby Boomers, Generation X, Millennials, and Generation Z.
• Discuss effective communication strategies and initiatives that facilitate mutual understanding, respect, and collaboration among different age groups.
• Discover how organizations can harness the diverse experiences and perspectives of multiple generations to drive innovation, creativity, and problem-solving.
Join us for an enlightening panel discussion exploring the dynamics of a diverse, multigenerational workforce and strategies for fostering collaboration, understanding, and synergy among different age groups. This discussion will focus on how organizations can leverage the strengths of each generation to create a harmonious and thriving work environment.
Take-home tool: Helpful website links to develop icebreaker questions and a “Get to Know You” form to engage with your employees.
Learning Objectives:
- Explore financial strategies to acquire capital purchases without upfront funding.
- Discover effective methodologies to secure optimal deals on purchases of supplies.
- Discuss finance fundamentals to improve your operating budget.
This session provides case examples on funding strategies when your capital funds are no longer available. The speaker will explore alternative options for procurement of your capital needs and innovative avenues to get what you need.
Learning Objectives:
- Identify the prevalent challenges in allocating OR block time, managing surgeon access, and the limitations associated with traditional block allocation methods.
- Examine how reliance on historical or flawed data in traditional block allocation contributes to underutilization and restricted OR access.
- Illustrate the role of AI-driven analytics in refining block time allocation for enhanced OR access and efficiency.
- Learn how technology is unlocking OR capacity and optimized resource allocation.
Addressing the complex challenge of block time allocation is critical for perioperative leaders. The operating room (OR) time, a limited yet vital resource, often faces conflicting demands and underutilization. This dilemma is partly due to traditional allocation practices that rely on historical or imperfect data, failing to align with the actual demand. Additionally, the mindset among surgeons that their block time is the only means of accessing the OR further complicates the issue. Block management processes are often manual, time-intensive, and retrospective, hindering efficient use of OR time.
To overcome these challenges and improve OR utilization, it is essential to harness technology beyond what EHRs are capable of. This approach transcends traditional block allocation barriers, providing enhanced OR access and efficiency through insightful, data-driven decision-making. Hospitals and perioperative teams are increasingly adopting a proactive, data-driven approach with predictive and prescriptive analytics to support block allocation and drive strategic operational decision-making.
Room: OR Manager Innovation Theater 2
Learning Objectives:
- Identify the historical perspective of gloving and its relevance to current practice.
- Discuss why double gloving will reduce occupational exposure to blood borne pathogens.
- Apply knowledge learned in case studies to develop potential changes in current practice settings.
The use of gloves in the perioperative setting is an accepted strategy to reduce the risk of exposure to blood borne pathogens. However, new pathogens have developed resistance to traditional treatments which requires an increased awareness and knowledge of occupational exposure risks. The practice of double gloving is one risk reduction strategy surgery staff can employ to mitigate the risk of exposure.
In this session the speakers will discuss the historical background of glove use, citing current literature to support the practice of double gloving. They will review current industry standards and share knowledge about approaches to implement practice changes.
Room: Booth 407
Learning Objectives:
- Describe how access to transparent and actionable data can help maximize surgeon and staff productivity and efficient use of operating room time.
- Explain how adopting technology with predictive and prescriptive analytics can facilitate meaningful conversations and collaboration among stakeholders.
- Gain insights into how to break through historical challenges of block utilization, scheduling, and resource allocation.
Maximizing surgeon and staff productivity and efficient use of operating room time (and minimizing conflict) that arises around surgeon accessibility and efficient use of operating room time is an achievable goal when all stakeholders have the capability to easily access transparent and actionable data. Adopting technology with predictive and prescriptive data analytics drives meaningful conversations, builds a collaborative culture and strengthens multidisciplinary relationships, while improving access to optimal patient care.
Room: OR Manager Innovation Theater 1
Learning Objectives:
- Discuss the benefits of Safe Patient Handling and Mobility (SPHM) Programs.
- Describe the causes of perioperative staff injuries.
- Identify the keys to reducing patient handling injuries.
Safety is multidimensional in nature, it includes both patient and surgical staff safety. Maintaining safety best-practices, particularly in patient handling, can be challenging. Learn how innovative solutions and safety programs can improve safe patient transfer (for both patients and healthcare workers), positioning security, as well as patient protection.
Room: OR Manager Innovation Theater 2
Learning Objectives:
- Discuss the challenges of anesthesia labor shortages and staffing options for success.
- Evaluate the performance of anesthesia services to enhance OR efficiencies.
- Describe creative ways to partner with anesthesia to improve future OR performance.
With over 15 years of experience at Somnia Anesthesia and currently serving as VP of Operations, Hugh Morgan brings unparalleled expertise to the table. In his session on "Anesthesia Update: Staffing, Performance, and Partnership for OR Success," he will delve into the critical challenges posed by anesthesia labor shortages and unveil effective staffing solutions for success. Additionally, Morgan will share insights on evaluating anesthesia service performance to optimize OR efficiencies, ensuring seamless patient care. Furthermore, attendees can anticipate innovative strategies for fostering collaborative partnerships with anesthesia, paving the way for continuous improvement in future OR performance.
Room: Booth 300
Learning Objectives:
• Define quality management as it applies to asset utilization.
• Explain how asset utilization can assist in right sizing inventory.
• Identify common challenges that may result from lack of insight into asset utilization.
• Identify key metrics used to evaluate asset utilization.
• Outline steps for Asset Utilization Analysis using the metrics collected.
This session will discuss strategies for right-sizing equipment inventory based on utilization and value the right-sizing process can bring to forecasting capital and operating budgets. Steps to ensure appropriate asset mix for procedure volume and reduction of loaner dependency will be discussed and practical approaches for implementing the right-sizing process will be outlined.
Room: OR Manager Innovation Theater 1
Learning Objectives:
- Discuss the benefits of Safe Patient Handling and Mobility (SPHM) Programs.
- Describe the causes of perioperative staff injuries.
- Identify the keys to reducing patient handling injuries.
Safety is multidimensional in nature, it includes both patient and surgical staff safety. Maintaining safety best-practices, particularly in patient handling, can be challenging. Learn how innovative solutions and safety programs can improve safe patient transfer (for both patients and healthcare workers), positioning security, as well as patient protection.
Room: OR Manager Innovation Theater 1
Learning Objectives:
- Explore the primary goals for SPD and the four factors that determine if these goals can be met.
- Describe the value and purpose of an SPD quality system.
- Dissect the costs associated with SPD errors.
Many SPD’s are challenged with high turnover, low morale and high error rates. Each issue perpetuates the others. Because most hospitals do not have a quality system in SPD, they do not know the full extent of SPD related errors or their associated costs. In this session, we will present how to install a quality system in SPD and teach you how to use this system to monitor Quality and SPD production. We will also present studies that show the true cost of SPD related errors. If you have a challenging SPD, then this session is for you.
Room: OR Manager Innovation Theater 2
Tuesday, October 29
Learning Objectives:
- Discuss ways to work with industry partners to optimize sustainable actions.
- Discover innovative solutions to reduce waste in the OR and increase efficiency.
- Explore sustainability options to support staff and create a culture of safety.
Sustainability is a key priority for leading health systems, and it’s importance is only growing. How can clinical leaders achieve goals in this area given available resources? This session will focus on innovative solutions that reduce waste, increase efficiency, and support staff and patient safety in the OR.
Learning Objectives:
- Debate the benefits of Propofol versus Conscious Sedation in the context of patient outcomes.
- Explore the impact of different anesthesia choices on patient comfort.
- Describe the clinical benefits and drawbacks from different anesthesia choices.
This session will discuss the pros and cons of Propofol versus Conscious Sedation. Explore evidence-based practice to understand how different anesthesia choices can benefit the patient and improve surgical outcomes.
Learning Objectives:
- Define the most common issues that are hurting your surgery program.
- Identify the most important issues to address first in order to rapidly improve your OR performance.
- Describe the proven strategies that will supercharge your OR quality, operations, supply chain, and financial performance.
Surgery is the financial lifeblood for most hospitals, and health systems are facing unprecedented pressure to deliver better surgery outcomes, greater OR efficiency, increased revenue and margins, and to grow their surgical services capacity. Perioperative teams are tasked to achieve these goals despite major resource constraints.
This session will discuss broad-based improvements in surgical quality, OR efficiency, supply chain optimization, and financial performance.
Key goals include:
- Improve patient care and quality.
- Maximize revenue through increased OR capacity, more cases, and higher dollars per case.
- Increase OR utilization.
- Optimize case location selection - Inpatient/Outpatient/ASC.
- Improve market share.
- Attract more surgeons by delivering a “best-in-class” OR experience.
Prof. Baruch Barzel, Opmed.AI
Dr. Mor Brokman, Co-founder & CEO, Opmed.AI
Dany Engel, Chief Executive Officer, Herzliya Medical Center
Learning Objectives:
• Demonstrate ways in which artificial intelligence (AI) can help predict case length and block utilization.
• Explain how network science can help optimize the block schedule leading to improved resource allocation.
• Describe how AI and network science applied together can increase utilization while saving resources.
Artificial intelligence (AI) and network science are two powerful recent technological breakthroughs that have already disrupted many areas, from art to management. Now these tools can help optimize OR planning, increasing capacity while, at the same time, cutting down on resources.
Mr. Jeffrey Adams, MHA from Geisinger Health and Mr. Dany Engel CEO of Herzliya Medical Center will share their expertise on how to use AI and network science to generate more accurate, predictive and highly efficient OR schedules.
Learning Objectives:
•Gain insight into evidence-based practices designed to support nursing students from the classroom to the operating room.
•Describe the role of local health systems in fostering a supportive environment conducive to the success and retention of nursing graduates.
•Explain collaborative initiatives that hold the potential to shape the future of perioperative nursing to create a resilient workforce.
This session delves into the strategies and initiatives aimed at empowering nursing students to thrive in their career journey and contribute effectively to local health systems in the perioperative arena. We explore the current trends, barriers, and opportunities in nursing education and practice, emphasizing the importance of collaborative efforts between educational institutions, healthcare organizations, and professional bodies to grow the future perioperative nursing workforce.
Learning Objectives:
• Identify key bottlenecks and describe the common challenges impacting OR utilization, patient access, and revenue generation.
• Explore available AI solutions and discover how AI-powered tools can optimize scheduling, resource allocation, and cost management within your OR.
• Develop an implementation plan and understand the practical steps involved in selecting and integrating AI solutions for a smooth and successful transition.
Unlock the hidden potential of your operating room (OR) with artificial intelligence (AI). This session dives into practical ways to leverage AI to optimize OR utilization, leading to increased patient and surgeon access while simultaneously boosting revenue. We'll demystify the process, showcasing how existing challenges in optimizing schedules, staff allocation, and resource management can be tackled with readily available AI solutions. Gain valuable insights on identifying improvement areas, selecting the right AI tools, and implementing them seamlessly within your workflow.
By attending this session, OR managers will leave equipped with actionable strategies and a clear roadmap to leverage AI for improved efficiency, accessibility, and financial performance in their operating rooms.
Cindy Hess, MSN, RN, FNP-C, CNAMB, Director of Nursing, Northeast Missouri Ambulatory Surgery Center
Vikram Tiwari, PhD, Associate Professor of Anesthesiology, Biomedical Informatics, Biostatistics and Senior Director, Surgical Analytics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Learning Objectives:
• Gain insights into the nature of difficult conversations and their impact on team dynamics, developing a nuanced understanding of various challenging scenarios.
• Describe practical techniques to respond constructively to challenging conversations, fostering a solution-oriented dialogue within the team.
• Explore conflict resolution methodologies and communication strategies that facilitate open dialogue to cultivate a more cohesive team environment.
This session is designed to empower nurse leaders with the skills and strategies necessary to navigate and respond effectively to challenging conversations within their teams. Join us for an insightful discussion on handling difficult conversations, fostering better communication, and managing conflicts within the workplace.
Moderator:
Amy Bethel, MPA, BSN, RN, NE-BC, Education Coordinator, OR Manager
Room: OR Manager Innovation Theater 2
Learning Objectives:
- Identify the historical perspective of gloving and its relevance to current practice.
- Discuss why double gloving will reduce occupational exposure to blood borne pathogens.
- Apply knowledge learned in case studies to develop potential changes in current practice settings.
The use of gloves in the perioperative setting is an accepted strategy to reduce the risk of exposure to blood borne pathogens. However, new pathogens have developed resistance to traditional treatments which requires an increased awareness and knowledge of occupational exposure risks. The practice of double gloving is one risk reduction strategy surgery staff can employ to mitigate the risk of exposure.
In this session the speakers will discuss the historical background of glove use, citing current literature to support the practice of double gloving. They will review current industry standards and share knowledge about approaches to implement practice changes.
Room: Booth 300
Learning Objectives:
• Define quality management as it applies to asset utilization.
• Explain how asset utilization can assist in right sizing inventory.
• Identify common challenges that may result from lack of insight into asset utilization.
• Identify key metrics used to evaluate asset utilization.
• Outline steps for Asset Utilization Analysis using the metrics collected.
This session will discuss strategies for right-sizing equipment inventory based on utilization and value the right-sizing process can bring to forecasting capital and operating budgets. Steps to ensure appropriate asset mix for procedure volume and reduction of loaner dependency will be discussed and practical approaches for implementing the right-sizing process will be outlined.
Room: OR Manager Innovation Theater 2
Learning Objectives:
• Discuss laser safety program requirements.
• Describe laser operator/user training and competency requirements.
• Discuss the decision-making metrics on laser ownership versus third-party laser/operator services.
This education session will focus on the ANSI Z136.3 standard for the safe use of lasers in healthcare. Understand how it is related to accreditation, regulatory agencies and professional organization practice guidelines. Compliance with the standard is necessary to control laser hazards and safety relative to patient treatment application risks.
Room: Booth 407
Learning Objectives:
- Describe how access to transparent and actionable data can help maximize surgeon and staff productivity and efficient use of operating room time.
- Explain how adopting technology with predictive and prescriptive analytics can facilitate meaningful conversations and collaboration among stakeholders.
- Gain insights into how to break through historical challenges of block utilization, scheduling, and resource allocation.
Maximizing surgeon and staff productivity and efficient use of operating room time (and minimizing conflict) that arises around surgeon accessibility and efficient use of operating room time is an achievable goal when all stakeholders have the capability to easily access transparent and actionable data. Adopting technology with predictive and prescriptive data analytics drives meaningful conversations, builds a collaborative culture and strengthens multidisciplinary relationships, while improving access to optimal patient care.
Room: OR Manager Innovation Theater 2
Learning Objectives:
- Discuss the challenges of anesthesia labor shortages and staffing options for success.
- Evaluate the performance of anesthesia services to enhance OR efficiencies.
- Describe creative ways to partner with anesthesia to improve future OR performance.
With over 15 years of experience at Somnia Anesthesia and currently serving as VP of Operations, Hugh Morgan brings unparalleled expertise to the table. In his session on "Anesthesia Update: Staffing, Performance, and Partnership for OR Success," he will delve into the critical challenges posed by anesthesia labor shortages and unveil effective staffing solutions for success. Additionally, Morgan will share insights on evaluating anesthesia service performance to optimize OR efficiencies, ensuring seamless patient care. Furthermore, attendees can anticipate innovative strategies for fostering collaborative partnerships with anesthesia, paving the way for continuous improvement in future OR performance.
Room: OR Manager Innovation Theater 1
Learning Objectives:
- Explore the primary goals for SPD and the four factors that determine if these goals can be met.
- Describe the value and purpose of an SPD quality system.
- Dissect the costs associated with SPD errors.
Many SPD’s are challenged with high turnover, low morale and high error rates. Each issue perpetuates the others. Because most hospitals do not have a quality system in SPD, they do not know the full extent of SPD related errors or their associated costs. In this session, we will present how to install a quality system in SPD and teach you how to use this system to monitor Quality and SPD production. We will also present studies that show the true cost of SPD related errors. If you have a challenging SPD, then this session is for you.
Room: Booth 300
Learning Objectives:
• Define quality management as it applies to asset utilization.
• Explain how asset utilization can assist in right sizing inventory.
• Identify common challenges that may result from lack of insight into asset utilization.
• Identify key metrics used to evaluate asset utilization.
• Outline steps for Asset Utilization Analysis using the metrics collected.
This session will discuss strategies for right-sizing equipment inventory based on utilization and value the right-sizing process can bring to forecasting capital and operating budgets. Steps to ensure appropriate asset mix for procedure volume and reduction of loaner dependency will be discussed and practical approaches for implementing the right-sizing process will be outlined.
Room: OR Manager Innovation Theater 2
Learning Objectives:
• Discuss laser safety program requirements.
• Describe laser operator/user training and competency requirements.
• Discuss the decision-making metrics on laser ownership versus third-party laser/operator services.
This education session will focus on the ANSI Z136.3 standard for the safe use of lasers in healthcare. Understand how it is related to accreditation, regulatory agencies and professional organization practice guidelines. Compliance with the standard is necessary to control laser hazards and safety relative to patient treatment application risks.
Room: OR Manager Innovation Theater 1
Learning Objectives:
- Describe the role of ASCs in meeting demand for total joint procedures.
- Explain the impact of total joint procedures performed in the ASC setting on quality of patient care.
- Discuss the technological advancements that improve overall procedural efficiency in the outpatient setting.
As the landscape of healthcare evolves, ASCs have become pivotal in providing efficient and cost-effective care. This session aims to explore the current state of outpatient total joint surgeries in ASCs, examining key trends, challenges, and innovations shaping the industry.
Samantha McColley, MHA, Solution Architect Informatics Lead, Mayo Clinic
Robert Swanson, BS, Information Systems Application Architect, Mayo Clinic
Learning Objectives:
• Outline the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) Return to OR reporting requirements.
• Define an Electronic Health Record (EHR) workflow for the Index Surgeon's verification of Return to OR documentation.
• Measure the impact of the workflow enhancements on compliance levels with the NSQIP Return to OR reporting standards.
The measurement of "Returns to the Operating Room" (OR) is a critical healthcare metric reported to the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP). Precise classification of returns as related or unrelated to the original procedure, and whether they were planned or unplanned, is vital. In cases related to the initial surgery, an OR nurse records the type and reason for the return. Subsequently, a message is sent to the Index Surgeon, the lead surgeon from the original procedure, for documentation verification and potential updates. This rigorous process ensures data accuracy and enhances patient safety and healthcare quality.
Learning Objectives:
• Discuss the importance of standardized preoperative care to ensure patient safety and satisfaction.
• Explain how preoperative preference cards can streamline surgical processes, reduce delays, while mitigating risks associated with inconsistent practices.
• Describe how preoperative preference cards can improve patient outcomes, enhance staff satisfaction, while optimizing departmental efficiency.
This session focuses on implementing a standardized approach to preoperative care tailored for prepping surgical patients. Each surgery or surgeon has a preference to prepping their patients. Staff have the overwhelming tasks to learn standards whether it’s for an open-heart surgery, abdominal surgery or other surgical specialty line. This daunting assignment can cause delays in care, frustration among staff and surgeons, and most importantly place patients at risk for disapproval or errors.
Learn how one facility developed preoperative preference cards to help standardize the nursing care performed in the preoperative area. The development of preoperative preference cards were based on best practice care from the formidable standards of accrediting agencies, certification standards and best care pathways. They were also compiled with the knowledge from the surgeons, anesthesiologist, circulating nurses and perioperative staff.
Attend this session for a step-by-step guide to developing preoperative preference cards to improve operational efficiencies, patient safety and throughput at any facility.
Kwame Gyabaah, BS, CHL, CIS, CER, CRCST, Sterile Processing Manager, Nemours Children's Hospital, Delaware
Sharon Udy-Janczuk, EdD, MSN, RN, CNOR, NE-BC, Perioperative Services, Clinical Nurse Educator, Transition to Practice, Nemours Children's Hospital, Delaware
Learning Objectives:
•Implement novel metrics to assess SPD utilization, supporting capital and operational needs, including FTEs.
•Establish a methodology ensuring sufficient human resources.
•Advocate for FTEs by engaging the C-suite in discussions.
Discovering the right approach to allocate resources for the Sterile Processing Department (SPD) involves considering the use of patient days and surgical volumes to gauge productivity. In light of the nationwide shortage of SPD techs and scheduling difficulties, this session will explore alternative methodologies, focusing on assessing full-time equivalents (FTEs).
Join us for an enlightening conversation delving into a comprehensive understanding of daily SPD operations, aiming to align workforce allocation more effectively with the required human resources.
Learning Objectives:
• Examine the role of mentorship programs and continuous learning in grooming and attracting talented individuals towards nurse leadership.
• Explore diverse pathways for aspiring nurse leaders, highlighting the various career trajectories available within nursing leadership.
• Discover innovative recruitment strategies to showcase career growth opportunities within nurse leadership positions.
This session is dedicated to exploring effective strategies aimed at attracting exceptional individuals into nurse leadership positions. Join us for an insightful discussion on the unique qualities, skills, and pathways that can entice top talent to pursue and excel in a nurse leadership role.
Learning Objectives:
• Demonstrate ways to build confidence to speak eloquently to the C-suite.
• Apply technical skills a new manager needs such as tools to analyze data for OR utilization.
• Present convincing business cases making the ROI justification to secure capital equipment.
This session is tailored for new managers seeking foundational knowledge in key business topics crucial for their professional growth and success. Join us for an insightful discussion covering essential skill sets such as relationship building, technical skills and ROI justification for capital equipment. In addition, several case studies and examples will be presented to demonstrate business skills that can be applied to any procedural area.
Take-home tool: Justification tool for capital equipment requests in all procedural areas.
Learning Objectives:
• Discover when it does and does not make sense to convert an HOPD to an ASC.
• Describe what hospitals should do when proceeding with an HOPD-to-ASC conversion.
• Recognize the importance of hospital-surgeon collaboration for the converted ASC.
To add an ASC or grow their number of centers, hospitals and health systems are increasingly exploring whether to convert existing hospital outpatient departments (HOPDs) to Ambulatory Surgery Centers (ASCs). This may seem like an easy approach to adding ASCs to an outpatient portfolio. Yet it is an approach rife with risk if those involved do not understand or fully appreciate the dynamics of a conversion. Even small oversights can derail a project or cause the new ASC to underperform.
Attend this session to dive into the growing trend of converting HOPDs to freestanding ASCs. Discover the pitfalls, best practices and lessons learned from real conversions and key considerations for success, such as surgeon engagement, speed to market and lowering costs.
Nicholas Meo, BSN, CNOR, OR Director, RWJ Barnabas Health
Learning Objectives:
- Create a diverse team dedicated to optimizing OR efficiency by fostering collaboration among stakeholders.
- Apply process mapping techniques to pinpoint bottlenecks within OR workflows.
- Explore strategies to navigate unforeseen disruptions to ensure business continuity.
This session offers a comprehensive exploration of OR efficiency strategies, resilience in the face of challenges, and the strategic measures adopted to navigate disruptions while maintaining progress toward efficiency goals. This case study will demonstrate how one team improved First Case on Time Starts (FCOTS) from 68% to 80% and Turn Around Time (TAT) from 41 minutes to 37 minutes, despite challenges posed by a workforce strike.
Jenny Lee James, BSN, RN, CPAN, Registered Nurse, Perioperative Care, Stormont Vail Health
Learning Objectives:
- Define emergence agitation to bring awareness to other disciplines.
- Educate nurses on the safety issues of emergence agitation.
- Optimize interdisciplinary collaboration by addressing this phenomenon.
Emergence agitation is a phenomenon that develops during the transition from unconsciousness to complete wakefulness after surgery that can lead to sporadic incidents of violence. A strong safety culture is essential to secure a uniform and nonviolent environment for patients and PACU nurses. It is essential to implement a standardized model for individuals who experience this phenomenon. Safety issues need to be addressed for patients recovering and staff members taking care of them. The phenomenon expends staff resources, and the situation can cause stress for those involved. Collaboration is strategic to develop and implement a standardized care model. Awareness on safety issues is vital to ensure optimum care for vulnerable patients in the PACU.
Kelly Glendon, MBA, BSN, RN, CNOR, Associate Chief Nursing Officer- Surgical Services, Summa Health System
Jessica Gray, MS, Director Business Intelligence, Surgical Services, Summa Health System
Learning Objectives:
- Describe the implementation of a surgeon onboarding process that supports engagement without deviating from standard value analysis processes.
- Discuss the roadmap for implementation of supply, equipment, and resource management with focus on cost avoidance, cost reduction and resource optimization.
- Explore the outcomes of implementation for each of these processes to implement them at your institution.
This session will highlight a creative solution focused on cost avoidance, reduction, standardization, and resource optimization during the surgeon onboarding and offboarding processes. The speakers will share how their process facilitates early connections between the new providers and surgery leadership to improve new provider satisfaction and preparedness. Additionally, speakers will describe how they used lean six sigma methodology to design their offboarding framework.
Melissa Lingle, MBA, BSN, RN, Managing Consultant, Impact Advisors LLC
Kaye Reiter, MSN, RN, NE-BC, Perioperative Subject Matter Expert and Consultant, Impact Advisors LLC
Learning Objectives:
• Outline successful leadership structure that will drive operational improvements.
• Discuss the components of rapid cycle improvement to drive efficiency changes within your organization.
• Review critical communication processes to ensure all parties are aligned to achieve results.
The perioperative department grapples with common challenges in meeting crucial efficiency metrics while ensuring both patient care and surgeon satisfaction. This session will guide you through a successful organizational journey, detailing a rapid cycle change process. Understand why it is critical to have a collaborative triad approach which includes nurses, surgeons and anesthesia leaders. From initial assessment to seamless implementation, learn how one organization navigated this journey, producing sustainable improvements in key metrics while prioritizing the patient's well-being amidst operational changes.
Patrel Nobles, MSN, RN, CNOR, NE-BC, Administrative Director, Surgical Services, HCA Reston Hospital
Nicholas Rizzo, MS-HSA, RN, CNOR, Assistant Director of Nursing, Operating Room, University of Rochester- Strong Memorial Hospital
Learning Objectives:
• Gain insights into diverse leadership perspectives by emerging leaders, embracing a wide-range of leadership styles.
• Explore common challenges encountered by new leaders that led to positive change.
• Discover visionary thinking by new leaders to foster resilience.
Join us for an inspiring panel discussion featuring emerging leaders as they share their unique perspectives, experiences, and strategies in developing in their role as New Managers. This engaging session offers a firsthand glimpse into the mindset, challenges, and innovative approaches embraced by the next generation of leaders poised to drive transformative change.
Moderator: Matt Danford, Managing Editor, OR Manager
Recharge and rejuvenate your spirit alongside your peers!
Get ready to step into our vibrant Neon Oasis at OR Manager’s Night Out! One of the most highly-attended events of the conference, attendees are able to connect with your perioperative peers in a relaxed environment.
We are turning up the neon, the beats, and the fun in Vegas!
You can expect an immersive poolside paradise bathed in lights and high energy. Choose your groove at the silent disco or bop along to the same tunes as your friends! Vegas performers join us for unforgettable photo memories. Top it off with a delicious dinner spread and drinks to enjoy.
Separate ticket required. Tickets can be purchased during registration. The Best Value Pass includes 1 OR Manager’s Night Out ticket with your registration.
Guest tickets are available for purchase. All guests must be 21+.
Wednesday, October 30
Anapa Nophlin, MS, CHFP, CASC, CSPPM, CPC, Principal Consultant, Ambulatory Surgery Consulting Partners
Learning Objectives:
- Gain a comprehensive understanding of the accreditation standards set forth by the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC) to ensure operational compliance.
- Explore the areas within AAAHC standards where ASCs commonly face citations during surveys.
- Acquire actionable strategies to address potential citations, fostering a culture of continuous compliance improvement within the ASC setting.
This session offers an in-depth exploration of the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC) standards, specifically tailored for ASCs. Join us for an informative discussion highlighting key accreditation requirements and addressing common areas where citations frequently occur during surveys.
Learning Objectives:
- Discuss the current trends in clinical education disruption.
- Evaluate emerging technologies and methodologies.
- Outline disruptive educational strategies for leaders, educators, and frontline clinicians.
In an era characterized by technological advancements and increased surgical complexity, traditional approaches to clinical education in the OR and SPD are due for a disruption. This cutting-edge session will delve into the dynamic intersection of clinical practice, leadership, and technology within the critical care and ASC settings. Attendees will explore transformative educational models that equip clinicians and leadership with the tools to navigate the ever-evolving landscape of perioperative & sterile processing practice. We will unpack the actionable strategies needed to elevate clinical education and, consequently, patient outcomes.
Tracy Hoeft-Hoffman, MSN, MBA, RN, CASC, Administrator, Heartland Surgery Center
Katherine Houle, MSN, RN, CPAN, Manager, PeriAnesthesia, CRNA, Sedated Imaging, Gillette Children's Specialty Healthcare
Carol Pehotsky, DNP, RN, CPAN, NEA-BC, Associate Chief Nursing Officer, Surgical Services and Senior Director, Surgical Nursing, Cleveland Clinic
Learning Objectives:
• Discuss collaborative approaches to address the complexities of social cases, facilitating compassionate care transitions.
• Describe the critical role of social workers in supporting PACU nurses to help manage patient concerns at discharge.
• Gain insights into best practices to optimize post-discharge outcomes amidst evolving social challenges in healthcare settings.
This session will focus on the escalating social cases that confront healthcare providers during patient discharge, particularly in the realm of Social Determinants of Health (SDOH). This session delves into the multifaceted challenges faced by healthcare professionals, including issues related to human trafficking, mental health patients, and caregivers, emphasizing the rising demand for social workers to collaborate with Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) nurses in the hospital and ASC setting.
Learning Objectives:
• Explore methodologies to implore full-time pay for call shifts to make it economical for your institution.
• Evaluate critical success factors to shift from conventional call to a full-time pay model.
• Examine the strategies involved to expand this staffing model to additional ORs.
This session will explore the transformative journey to address burnout among staff taking overnight call. Hear from one team on how they crafted an innovative staffing model that included full-time pay for call shifts and significantly reduced burnout rates while bolstering staff retention. Attendees will gain insights into the strategies employed, lessons learned, and the impact of these changes on staff well-being and organizational effectiveness.
Learning Objectives:
- Describe the role of value analysis teams to enhance materials management practices.
- Identify common sources of waste in the OR environment.
- Acquire tools for implementing decision-making processes within value analysis teams to optimize materials usage.
Join us for an insightful discussion on value analysis teams and cross-functional partnerships focused on enhancing materials management and reducing waste in the operating room. This session will explore the critical role of value analysis teams as a gateway to appropriate new products, capital and other operational efficiencies in materials management. Through case studies, surveying and interactive discussions, participants will gain valuable insights into strategies for optimizing materials usage, reducing waste, and improving overall efficiency in the OR.
Renee Cooper, MSN-HP, RN-BC, CNL, Clinical Nurse Educator, Endeavor Health
Juliette Triebe BSN, RN, CAPA, CPAN, Clinical Nurse Educator of the Ambulatory Surgery Unit, Post Anesthesia Care Unit, and Cardiovascular Institute, Endeavor Health
Jillian Wander BSN, RN, CPAN, Clinical Nurse Educator, Endeavor Health
Learning Objectives:
• Pinpoint barriers hindering your staff from utilizing simulation labs.
• Develop a needs assessment empowering your nurses to actively pursue their educational goals.
• Cultivate a supportive atmosphere within the simulation lab, counteracting the overwhelming feelings often experienced by nurses.
The use of simulation empowers nurses to engage with lifelike scenarios, enabling learners to step back, reassess, intervene, and evaluate their decisions. Yet, this unfamiliar environment can initially daunt learners. Hear from one team of clinical nurse educators who recognized their nurses' desire for an interactive, true-to-life setting to enhance their skills and how they crafted a needs assessment inspired by the Donna Wright competency model. Their strategy extended across the entire nursing system, effectively dismantling these barriers and engaged nurses seeking more opportunities within the simulation environment.
Learning Objectives:
- Describe the methodologies involved in conducting comprehensive health system surgery migration assessments.
- Identify the critical factors influencing the migration of surgical cases from traditional inpatient settings to the ASC environment.
- Analyze the revenue implications associated with case volume migration while ensuring quality of patient care.
This session will delve into the intricacies of conducting extensive health system surgery migration assessments. Participants will explore the revenue implications and critical factors that go into determining cases that will migrate from the inpatient to HOPD to an ASC.
Janet Duran, DNP, MSN, MHA, LNC, ST, RN, Director of Surgical Services, Fisher Titus Medical Center
Casey Orth-Nebitt, MSN, RN, CNOR, Director of Surgery, Buena Vista Regional Medical Center
Learning Objectives:
- Apply concepts to cross-train staff for different roles to address workforce challenges in the rural hospital setting.
- Collaborate with tertiary hospitals to increase patient volume, while enhancing overall surgical services provided by rural hospitals.
- Invest in training perioperative nurses to improve their skills in the rural healthcare setting.
This panel session delves into the strategic aspects of enhancing efficiencies in the rural hospital setting. It focuses on optimizing staffing plans through cross-training initiatives, collaborating with tertiary hospitals to bolster patient volume while maintaining surgeon satisfaction, and implementing ongoing education programs for perioperative nurses.
Moderator: Amy Bethel, MPA, BSN, RN, NE-BC, Education Coordinator, OR Manager Conference
Carol Pehotsky, DNP, RN, CPAN, NEA-BC, Associate Chief Nursing Officer, Surgical Services and Senior Director, Surgical Nursing, Cleveland Clinic
Tonya Seckner, MSN, RN, CPAN, Assistant Director of Perioperative Services, Upstate Medical University
Learning Objectives:
• Learn the fundamental concepts of PACU leadership to empower your team.
• Adjust your leadership style to cope with challenging situations in post-operative care.
• Discover best practices for optimizing patient throughput and managing communications between departments.
From bottleneck to throughput to phase II and phase I, your day is filled with judgment calls. In this session you will have direct access to postoperative leaders who have a combined 45+ years of experience leading the PACU. Learn their secrets to success - they are eager to share their insights and experiences with you! Bring your most pressing questions to help you overcome your greatest challenges.
W. Zeh Wellington, DNP, RN, NE-BC, Director of Procedural Care - Surgical Services, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital
Learning Objectives:
- Enhance team communication by implementing productivity-based staffing models.
- Explore the benefits of cross-orientation and job shadowing to foster connections among staff.
- Discover team-building strategies to keep cases running despite a cyber-security attack.
Join us for an enlightening discussion to learn about one team’s resilience and how they overcame a massive cyber security attack and converted their electronic records to 100% paper tracking without a single delay in cases. Featuring insights from Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, the presenters will share a comprehensive productivity and activity-based staffing model that was developed to enhance team communication between the OR and SPD. Discover team-building strategies to streamline processes and support the entire needs of the hospital, despite a massive system shut-down.
Take-home tool: Authentic leadership worksheet, activity-based staffing model worksheet, and a down-time planning list to use as a preparation tool in the event of a cyber security attack.
Jennifer Simonetti, DNP, RN, NPD-BC, CPN, Director, Magnet Program, Patient Experience, Cultural Leader, Cohen Children's Medical Center
Learning Objectives:
- Verbalize how a focused interprofessional program can improve quality outcomes for persons with neurodiversity in the perioperative care arena.
- Explain how a family driven program can be integrated into a care facility to improve patient experience.
- Describe how creating an inclusive perioperative environment promotes organizational change.
Learn how one institution was able to drive organizational change to provide an inclusive environment for the neurodiverse population. Through the integration of a multifaceted program targeted to individualize care, this organization was able to break stigmas and provide a supportive environment to improve efficiency, quality of care, and patient experience.
What is the mindset needed to be vibrant, alive and in command of your life? What does it look and feel like? At any moment, life can throw turmoil in our direction—uncertainty and unrest from changes at work, the shock of sudden financial loss, an automobile accident, serious illness…What does it take to be ok inside of ourselves no matter what?
Allison Massari’s journey, delivered through the art of storytelling, reveals that we can discover untold amounts of strength, joy and aliveness when we learn to embrace our challenges in a new way. Allison states, “We can each make a vigorous, life-changing choice to navigate our way through and beyond adversity and be a force of light for ourselves and others.”
With vision, clarity, and compassion, Allison teaches audiences the potent life lessons that she learned on each step of her path after she was severely burned in a fire and faced seemingly insurmountable odds. Her riveting keynote boosts confidence and well-being and offers a balm of hope as Allison intimately shares the nuances of how to respond to difficult circumstances and maintain personal command and integrity despite life’s disruptions. With genuine encouragement and support, you’ll receive a new perspective from which to see the world and walk away with effective methods to handle challenges and move towards dreams and goals with courage, purpose, and the strength of an open heart.
In today’s changing world of merging companies, new leadership, digital transformation, hypercompetition and an epidemic of burnout and isolation, Allison Massari brings a fresh and riveting message of hope and possibility to her audiences.
Prepare to be profoundly moved and deeply inspired. Prepare to be taken on a journey. Alisson Massari’s concluding keynote promises to deliver the perfect end to the conference week and set attendees on the right path to seize opportunities in their professional lives.
Learning Objectives:
- Learn the 5 components of a healthy, fully functioning resilience mindset.
- Energize your teams and galvanize their commitment to this noble profession, helping with employee retention.
- Witness the powerful results of fierce determination and tenacity in an impossible situation.