How to Honor National Safety Month All Year Long at Your ASC

It is the 25th anniversary of National Safety Month. Since 1996, the National Safety Council has brought awareness to safety issues and encouraged everyone to help others stay safe, whether it be at the workplace or anywhere else.

This year holds special value to the safety of the nation, because our country only recently started to recover from a pandemic that devastated all aspects of our lives and flipped the medical industry on its head, as everyone struggled to adapt to the rapidly changing environment. Centers were shut down, people were overworked, and supplies were constantly in shortage.

Now, more than ever, observing and practicing safety in our ambulatory surgery centers is critical to keeping everyone alive and well. Follow the tips below to honor National Safety Month in your ASC all year long.

Prevent Incidents Before They Start

Prevention has been a prevalent issue this past year, and in April, the Texas Ambulatory Surgery Center Society dedicated a whole week to infection control. Simple things like hand washing and wearing proper personal protective equipment are key to preventing incidents before they start. Along with that comes proper equipment sterilization, keeping up with changing regulations and always having a plan for emergency situations. Since surgery centers aren’t emergency rooms, it’s important to consider having some emergency equipment, just in case, and to be knowledgeable of emergency rooms in the area, if something starts to go south.

Address Ongoing COVID-19 Safety Concerns

As our country adapts to COVID, it’s important for surgery centers to do the same. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention has been updating its recommendations daily—sometimes hourly—during this pandemic. Surgery centers and their staff need to stay up-to-date with these changing regulations and be able to adapt as quickly as possible. Even as the dangers of COVID begin to subside with the increasingly vaccinated population, it’s important for everyone in surgery centers to remain cautious and continue to practice safety guidelines as they change. Continue increased sanitization efforts, and be proactive with patients if they come in and are experiencing any symptoms. It’s better safe than sorry, since we’re not out of the woods just yet.

Promote Safety Beyond Just Medical Care

While it’s critical to focus on the medical side of things, we also need to focus on the human side, too. Since ASCs are outpatient facilities, it may become easy to get in and get out without making the patients feel heard. Take a step back to make sure your patients are getting the care at the professional and personal level that they deserve to help them feel safe in your hands.

Extend the same courtesy to your coworkers, as well. You’re all working towards the same goal—to give your patients the best care—so be sure to make your coworkers feel as safe in their environment as your patients.

Advance Your Safety Journey

The world of healthcare is constantly changing. From new equipment to new standards, something is always being updated. Keep up with those rapid changes as best you can, research new procedures, technology and innovations in the industry, and make sure to brush up on safety education through places like TASCS or the National Safety Council.

Safety is crucial to the healthcare environment. Continuing to adapt and educate ourselves is the best way to help keep patients and staff feeling safe in ASCs...during National Safety Month and beyond.

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