Issue link: https://beckershealthcare.uberflip.com/i/1311160
28 Executive Briefing outcome and a complicated recovery. 3M's protocol for perioperative normothermia keeps patients' core body temperatures between 36 and 37.5 degrees Celsius preoperatively, intraoperatively and postoperatively. "Patients experience a tremendous temperature drop —up to 1.6 degrees Celsius 1 — after anesthesia induction," Ms. Juntunen said. "By pre-warming patients with an active warming blanket or gown, we can bank heat. When the patient arrives at the OR, active warming continues, and this process extends into the post-anesthesia care unit. The goal is to pre-warm, monitor and maintain normothermia." The 3M™ Bair Hugger™ temperature management portfolio includes forced-air warming gowns and warming blankets. Specialty warming blankets are available for challenging surgical procedures, such as cardiovascular, neuro, robotics, and orthopedic surgeries. The 3M™ Ranger™ Blood/Fluid Warming System provides clinicians with the ability to warm blood and other fluids to help prevent hypothermia and also offers the option of using a pressure infusor for trauma fluid resuscitation. Noninvasive core temperature monitoring goes hand in hand with proactive patient warming practices. On average, a hospital will stock five different modalities to monitor patient temperatures from the preoperative area to the PACU. 2 "It's a huge challenge to make clinical decisions for a patient based on inconsistent data," Mr. Hampton said. "Providers must make tradeoffs between very accurate but invasive modalities like pulmonary artery catheters and less accurate and less invasive options like temporal artery scanners or thermometers. The 3M™ Bair Hugger™ Temperature Monitoring System offers a noninvasive, highly accurate core body temperature monitoring solution that allows clinicians to track core body temperature using a sensor placed on the patient's forehead." Sustainable SSI action plans require a holistic approach to data collection and education When deploying protocols to reduce SSIs, healthcare organizations may not have the time or resources to measure their current state and launch education programs that span the entire patient journey. 3M addresses these issues with the 3M™ Peak™ Clinical Outcomes Program and its team of clinical specialists. "In the area of perioperative normothermia, the Peak Program is eye-opening for healthcare leadership teams," Ms. Juntunen said. "A group of 3M clinical specialists observes the temperature monitoring and warming practices that occur from pre-op to intra-op and post-op. We track and enter data which captures gaps where patients may be hypothermic." The 3M team shares data that help the leadership team understand in a holistic way how well the organization is doing with temperature management practices. Every facility is different. At some organizations, preoperative nurses need education about the effect of anesthesia on core body temperatures. At others, the OR team hasn't implemented workflows for promptly connecting warming blankets or gowns as the patient enters the OR. As a result, patients' temperatures drop. The Peak Program may uncover temperature management inconsistencies, gaps, and process-improvement opportunities, but it doesn't stop there. "I think the most critical value-add that we provide is working with facilities and clinicians to create an action plan based on their data. That includes continuing education, if necessary," Ms. Slaughter said. "3M works with customers as a partner and a solution provider, so they derive the greatest value from the modalities they are using." COVID-19 has increased concerns about patient and provider safety Nationwide, patients have made decisions to delay their healthcare needs due to the pandemic. In many cases, this has caused their chronic health conditions to worsen. "When patients delay care, we see significant changes in their acuity levels and in the medical interventions that are now needed," Ms. Slaughter said. Patient safety is more challenging now than ever before and healthcare organizations have a heightened awareness of the importance of implementing effective infection prevention programs. They're seeking the best strategies to care for both patients and the clinical team. Fortunately, 3M offers a range of perioperative solutions to help protect clinicians and to help decrease complications. Many organizations have shifted to virtual training and 3M is continuing to engage with partners through online education, webinars, virtual communication and more. "We are constantly looking at platforms to keep the conversation going about SSI reduction. It's more important than ever," Mr. Hampton said. Even before the COVID-19 pandemic emerged, reducing infections and other hospital acquired complications were among 3M's high-priority goals. Attaining this requires a partnership among patients, providers and 3M. "We make the products and provide the educational tools that help clinicians to deliver outstanding care," Mr. Hampton said. "A key component of that partnership is our team of clinical specialists with extensive experience practicing evidence- based guidelines." Putting it all together With a range of perioperative solutions and a clinical team to help implement evidence-based protocols and educate clinicians, 3M is working towards reducing the number of SSIs closer to zero. To learn more about 3M solutions that can help reduce the risk of complications, visit www.3M.com/ surgicalsafety. n References 1 Mahoney CB, Odom J. Maintaining intra-operative normothermia: a meta-analysis of outcomes with costs. AANA J. 1999;67(2):155-163. 2 AORN. 2012 Survey of AORN Nurses. 3M Data on file. 3M+KCI focuses on providing better care through patient-centered science. Helping transform patient outcomes by reducing the risk of preventable complications. From solutions for SSI risk reduction to temperature and incision management, our team is ready to partner with you to strive toward a world with zero complications.