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PHOTO: In front, from left, staff members Sara Trask, RN; Jaime Roberts, RN; Jessica Koehling, CST; middle, Danielle Tannenbaum, CST; Kristin Scott, CST; in back, Samantha Mallett, RN; and Nicole Abell, RN. (Submitted photo)
FARMINGTON — Franklin Memorial Hospital earned the national Go Clear Award for its achievement in eliminating hazardous smoke from its surgical procedures. The award is presented by the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses to recognize health care facilities that have committed to providing increased surgical patient and health care worker safety by implementing practices that eliminate smoke caused by the use of lasers and electrosurgery devices during surgery. The hospital earned its award by undergoing comprehensive surgical smoke education and testing and for providing the medical devices and resources necessary to evacuate surgical smoke during all smoke-generating procedures.
Surgical smoke is the unwanted by-product of energy-generating devices used in 90 percent of all surgeries. Its contents include toxic chemicals such as benzene, formaldehyde, hydrogen cyanide and carbon monoxide, viruses, bacteria, blood and cancer cells. Inhalation and absorption of surgical smoke pose serious health risks to patients and surgical staff. Studies compare the inhalation of smoke from vaporized human tissue to the smoke created by cigarettes; the average daily impact of surgical smoke to the surgical team is equivalent to inhaling 27-30 unfiltered cigarettes. Today, it is estimated only 50 percent of health care workers across the U.S. understand the hazards of smoke exposure.
“Total evacuation needs to become the standard for all procedures that generate surgical smoke,” said Linda Groah, CEO/executive director of the nurses organization. “With this award, Franklin Memorial Hospital, is demonstrating its deep commitment to the health and safety of its staff and community.”
Franklin Memorial Hospital is just the second hospital in the state of Maine to earn this distinction.
