You want to know, “Are you on my GPO?” We need to know, “Suction Regulators: Capital or Commodity?” The answer to this simple question may determine where our suction regulators are contracted.

Incontinence-associated dermatitis (IAD), sometimes referred to as perineal dermatitis, is an inflammation of the skin associated with exposure to urine or stool. IAD effects are costly, painful, and, for the most part, preventable. Although further research is required to evaluate the effectiveness of the various available interventions, it can be assumed that those solutions that result in a drier patient can effectively prevent IAD.

According to the National Safety Council, falls are one of the leading causes of accidental injuries in the U.S. These unintentional falls account for roughly 8.9 million visits to the emergency department each year.

When you think about your robot-assisted bariatric surgeries and reflect on how efficient you have become with as technologically advanced a machine as there is, what is one part of the process you find could be improved? For many, the answer does not lie with the robotic apparatus, such as Intuitive's da Vinci® Surgical System, but instead with the calibration device used during their procedures.

Boehringer's 4th Value is "We provide the opportunity to grow professionally for those who have chosen to join us in our Mission." This week, Brit interviews Ed Pearlstein, the VP of Sales and National Accounts, on his experience with the Villanova College of Professional Studies: Leadership Certificate course.

An Outpatient Surgery Magazine article prompts us to think about the small steps it takes to move towards a more sustainable surgery. Claire Duncan proposes that "do no harm," while it guides the culture of patient care, also can extend to the environment. The article focuses on O.R.s, but this same philosophy can be attributed to other aspects of the hospital.

A March 2022 article published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that among patients with obesity, weight loss achieved with surgery, compared with no surgery, was associated with a significantly lower risk of hospitalization, need for supplemental oxygen, and severe disease after contracting COVID-19 infection.

Suction regulators play a vital part in medical management, from removing hemorrhages in an emergency to maintaining an appropriate vacuum for gastrointestinal secretions, appearing in nearly every patient care area of the hospital. They convert the facility's central gas system to a reduced level safe for patient use, limiting the total pressure generated by the primary vacuum system to a level appropriate for surgical applications and waste gas disposal.

Whenever we go into a Biomed shop and see bins of broken plastic suction regulators, we see not only wasted capital but also wasted future human capital. Your BioMed shop can't afford to be a jobs program—not in the twenty-first century. The most expensive thing a hospital buys in any given year is the staff.

While suction is one of the most used treatments in a medical facility, it is also possibly the most misunderstood. Medical flow is an act of fluid, or air, running smoothly through a tube from the patient to the collection canister. Flow is affected by various other factors, such as the diameter of the tubing.

Brit interviews Senior Regional Sales Director, Brandon Castro, about "Mastering the Complex Sales: How to Compete and Win When the Stakes Are High!" by Jeff Thull. According to GoodReads, "It presents The Prime Process--a diagnostic, customer-centered approach that clearly sets you apart from your competition and positions you with respect and credibility as a valued and trusted advisor." Brandon tells us what he learned from the book and why he recommends you read it!

Many surgeons report an improved temperament and less mental fatigue if music plays during a procedure, suggesting that it may enhance their performance. However, surgeons also feel that background music makes communication more difficult and increases the likelihood of distraction. So....how does background music affect the focus and performance of surgeons and their teams?

External female urinary management systems work to reduce catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs). However, reports have been filed that specific systems increase the rate of hospital-acquired pressure injuries (HAPIs). The greater the incidence of CAUTIs and HAPIs, the more likely a hospital is subjected to a payment reduction.

The Foley catheter was designed and introduced in the early 1930s as a reliable, self-retaining, balloon-tipped catheter for continuous bladder drainage.

The best way to determine your clinical need is to look at the various interventions you do: Emergency Suction, Oral Suction, Closed Suctioning, Nasogastric Drainage, Subglottic Suction, and Chest Drainage.

The goal of the pump-mounted WAGD, like that on the Boehringer Laboratories VAVD Controllers, is to be slightly above the sweep flow, to gently pull the anesthetic gas and room air into the scavenge line. By doing so, you safely and successfully scavenge waste anesthetic gas and protect your operating room personnel.

Brit interviews Project Engineer Will Dackis about "When Breath Becomes Air" by Paul Kalanithi. According to GoodReads, When Breath Becomes Air is "a profoundly moving, exquisitely observed memoir by a young neurosurgeon faced with a terminal cancer diagnosis who attempts to answer the question 'What makes a life worth living?' Will tells us what he learned from the book and why he recommends you read it!

When using female external catheters (FECs) such as PureWick® and PrimaFit®, the location of the suction canister is a crucial and often overlooked aspect of the clinical setup.

Critical Care patients typically require above-average equipment use, meaning an increased need for suction and electrical ports. Supplemental oxygen is great, but you need an open airway. Wheeling equipment into a room is easy, but changes to the piped-in medical gases are much more difficult. Boehringer has been developing engineered solutions to expand your access to suction for more than a decade.

Hospitals utilize both multi and single-use bougies. While manufacturers’ recommendations for cleaning and maintenance require high-level disinfection of bougies, many hospitals do not adhere to these standards. As a single-use device, VISIGI® eliminates any concern about cross-contamination.