11. Observing in the OR – A Good Idea! Access as an observer in the OR is by invitation only, and you must know the proper decorum and protocol ahead of time to avoid embarrassing or dangerous mistakes.
12. Contacting OR Personnel Unscheduled meetings in facilities are usually discouraged. When a surgeon has requested your presence it is still important that you contact the clinical coordinator for that specialty prior to arriving at the hospital. The coordinator will ensure your name is on the roster for admission to the Operating room. Checking the facilities’ policies regarding vendors will help in preventing any problems that may arise upon your arrival.
13. In-Servicing the OR Staff If a product is being used for the first time at a new facility, plan an in-service prior to the scheduled procedure.
14. The OR Team – Circulating Nurse The circulating nurse is in charge of the room. She/he has the responsibility to assess the patient’s needs, to function as the “patient’s advocate” and to anticipate the needs of the surgical and anesthesia teams. Each OR team member is responsible for assuring the patient’s safety comes first.
15. Talking in the Operating Room Keep conversation to a minimum. Conversations should be kept pertinent, essential, and always professional . Be sensitive to challenges the surgeon and surgical team may be experiencing. Turn off your cell phone…no talking or texting on cell phone. Remember – you are a guest!
16. Protecting the Sterile Field Wear surgical attire properly. Stand away at least 4 ft from the sterile field. This includes the back table, mayo tray, and the draped surgical field. Stand at least 2 to 3 feet away from any sterile member of the surgical team. Even if you have permission to take pictures, do not lean over the sterile field with your camera. If you need to point at things in the sterile field use a laser pointer. Do not touch any part of the sterile field. Do not open any sterile products– especially your product .
17. Traffic in the OR Do not enter into the OR until the patient is prepped and draped. Persons moving within or around a sterile field should do so in a manner to maintain the sterile field & movement should be kept to a minimum. When it is necessary to move around a functioning OR, you should face the sterile field at all times. One should never take a pathway between two sterile fields. Entry into and exit from a surgical room should be done only when absolutely necessary. Doors to the operating rooms should be kept closed to maintain positive pressure in the OR.
18. Patient’s Privacy You must never divulge a patient’s name and situation to anyone who is not directly involved with their care. It is not acceptable to discuss the cases you are involved with in the hospital elevator, cafeteria, lobby, hallways, or anywhere else where a lack of privacy may be an issue. You never know who may overhear your conversation and/or what their relationship is to the patient involved.
19. Know Your Product It is essential that the sales/clinical representative have extensive knowledge of how their product works. Be approachable to the staff if questions should arise regarding the product.
20. Selling in the OR Most facilities have strict guidelines on soliciting and/or the distribution of literature on their property. Representatives must maintain a professional attitude and must not exhibit persistent aggressiveness or abusive, vulgar, or disruptive language or behavior. Surgeons may become irritated and complain to management regarding “selling” while they are operating.
21. Representative Noncompliance Most facilities give a non-compliant representative three progressive discipline plans: First offense: Representative will receive a verbal warning. Second offense: Representative’s Regional/ National Sales Manager will be notified of the incident and shall be requested to take corrective action. Third Offense: Representative and Company may be prohibited in conducting business at the facility.
22. In Summary Sales and clinical representatives provide nurses, physicians, and technicians with some of the information which they need in order to keep up with the changing technology of surgical instrumentation and equipment. Following the protocols of each facility, displaying a professional demeanor, and adhering to OR etiquette will allow you to establish a meaningful, excellent rapport with each facilities’ personnel. Ask for permission… instead of asking for forgiveness.
In-servicing the OR staff prior to using a new product..is the right thing to do. You are showing the OR staff you respect that they be knowledgable about your product—No surprises….No one likes to be surprised in the OR
Upon entering the room, place your name on the board—or place your business card by patients chart.Observe his/her’s actions…if they look busy—do not interrupt, wait till there is an appropriate time to introduce yourselfIf you were able to get the name of the circulator prior to the start of the surgical case—take only a few seconds to inform her/him you will be present in the roomAlthough the circulator in deemed to be in charge of the room, Each team member will be responsible to maintain sterility and initiate corrective action as appropriate Note:If one person of the team says it is unsterile or contaminated—It is considered “unsterile”
Nosocomialinfections of nasopharynx origin are common surgical site infections.Another reason talking should be kept to a minimum is the surgical mask itself. Once saturated with moisture, the mask lacks effective filtration properties. Human breath is laden with moisture that is expelled while breathing, talking, sneezing, and coughing. The mask is a protective barrier that benefits both the wearer and the patient, when worn properly.During induction of and emergencefrom anesthesia, it is always courteous to the anesthesia provider and the patient torefrain from talking. There have been studies that indicate patients may experiencesome awareness while under anesthesia. This is one reason why conversations withinthe surgical suite should be pertinent, essential, and always professional.Only speak when spoken to! It is important not to disrupt the Operating Room setting, and if you happen to be there for educational benefit, many surgeons/doctors are very good with narrating what they are doing for educational benefit.Shut phone off, don’t be texting, etc
Review masks, jewelry, etc.–Although the back of the gown is considered unsterile, it is poor technique and inappropriate to touch a scrubbed team member on the shoulder or backeven though the back of a sterile gown is considered unsterile it is not good technique to touch any member of the sterile teamAsk before using the laser pointerTry keeping your hands behind you or clasped in front of you…in order to stop the urge to catch Opening the colonring can result in an unfortunate comprise of sterility—you could be accussed of doing it on purpose in order to open and other device…furthermore opening sterile products is the circulators responsibilty
Movement of personnel should be kept to a minimum during procedures. Air is a potential source of microorganisms that can contaminate surgical wounds. Increased movement increases bacterial shedding by personnel, therefore greater amounts of airborne contamination can be expected with increased movement. Doors to the operating rooms should be kept closed to maintain positive pressure in the OR
It is never appropriate to discuss patient events outside of the hospital setting. Federal rulings have clarified and reinforced the responsibility of all of us to protect all patient information. Every patient who enters any hospital/facility has the right to expect privacy
It is frowned upon being aggressive in selling a productKnowing your product well…is of the upmost importance. This will hinder any embarrassing situations you may run into if you do not know how to answer a question