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Home This Month E-Weekly Newsletter Building a Facility Article Archive Second Opinions
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Outpatient Surgery E-Weekly

Contact Congress Over Drug Shortage Issues

A Kentucky congressman is urging surgical facilities to contact their members of Congress and request that they sign his letter demanding changes to...

N.J. Posts ASC Inspection Reports Online

State and federal inspection reports of New Jersey's ASCs are now available online, giving patients an opportunity to make more informed choices abo...

Are Opioids Necessary?

While it's not always practical, or even possible, to eliminate opioids from your post-op pain management regiment, reducing their use in favor of n...

Archive >  Patient Safety 2009

Shield Patients and Staff From Stray Electrical Current

Knowing your electrosurgical equipment can help prevent patient burns and OR fires.

Vangie Dennis, RN, CNOR, CMLSO

No group of surgical instruments is used as frequently, yet understood as poorly, as electrosurgical units. Because electrosurgery employs high-frequency, high-density electrical current to produce the desired tissue-cutting and -sealing effect, this technology poses a significant safety hazard if staff fail to take the proper precautions. Let's review the basic features of your electrosurgery units and the accompanying devices, products and practices that can help shield patients and staff from stray electrical current.

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