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Episodes from First Case Podcast
The Hidden World of Biofilm: Exploring the Dangers Lurking in our Instruments
What do the plaque on your teeth, soap scum, and slippery rocks down by the creek all have in common? They're all examples of biofilm! But these aren't the only places that biolfims can form – they can also be found on our surgical instruments and inside our bodies. Joining us today to talk about all things biofilm is Mike Matthews, Director of Customer Education at Agiliti. In this interview, we'll discover how biofilm forms, the ways in which it can cause infection, and what we can do in the Operating Room to help prevent it. Stay tuned! Lo...
Top 10: General Surgery
General surgery is where many perioperative nurses begin their OR journey. It's one of the most diverse and foundational specialties in the operating room, touching everything from colorectal and thyroid cases to breast, abdominal, and head & neck procedures. In this First Case Articles-On-The-Go, Lindsay Joyce, MSN, RN, CNOR breaks down the Top 10 things OR teams should know about general surgery - from being ready to convert laparoscopic cases to open, to understanding patient positioning, implants, ERAS protocols, hemostatic agents, and proper drain management. Whether you're new to the OR or just need a refresher, this e...
Microbes in Motion: Understanding Pathogen Transfer & Environmental Contamination
How long can pathogens live on a surface? What is the likelihood that we are transferring organisms from surfaces we touch to our patients or to our family members? Joining us today to discuss microbiology and infection prevention is Dr. Wava Truscott, Director of Regulatory Affairs and clinical Education at Shield Technology, Inc. Learn with us as Wava discusses environmental contamination, pathogens that we see in our hospitals, disinfectants, and small colony variants. Don't miss this interview! Love our show? Download our First Case mobile app on: 📲 Apple users: https://zcu.io/gExL Android users: htt...
Ensuring Scope Safety: Preventing Infection Through Proper Cleaning, Care, & Data Collection
What is the MAUDE Database, and what does it have to do with the Operating Room? Answering this question and connecting the dots for us today is Dr. Larry Muscarella, PhD, President and Principal at LFM Healthcare Solutions, LLC. Tune in as we dive into the Manufacturer and User Facility Device Experience (MAUDE) Database, as we discuss medical devices like gastroscopes and flexible endoscopes and find out what the guidelines say about their proper care and cleaning. Love our show? Download our First Case mobile app on: 📲 Apple users: https://zcu.io/gExL Android users: htt...
Top 10: Organ Procurement and Transplant
Organ procurement and transplant surgeries are among the most unique and emotionally powerful cases the OR team may encounter. And while they may not happen often, or in every facility, when they do occur, preparation, collaboration, and advocacy matter more than ever. In this First Case Articles-On-The-Go, Lindsay Joyce, MSN, RN, CNOR, walks through the Top 10 things perioperative teams should know about organ procurement and transplant, from understanding the role of visiting procurement teams and honoring donor consent, to managing complex multi-team procedures and the intense coordination required for life-saving transplants. Tune in to discover h...
Mistakes in Infection Prevention: What's Hindering Your Infection Prevention Program?
What simple, everyday actions are derailing your infection prevention program? Tune in to this discussion with Erica Smith, Surgical Solutions Manager at Henry Schein Medical as we discuss 4 common missteps in Infection Prevention. We'll discuss how 4, "simple" actions can have significant impact on the health of our patients, and Erica will provide insight into the ways that we can improve. Don't miss it! Love our show? Download our First Case mobile app on: 📲 Apple users: https://zcu.io/gExL Android users: https://zcu.io/j7Kx Or you can subscribe to the podcast thr...
Improving Outcomes: Infection Prevention in the CVOR
Cardiac surgery is definitely its own specialty, and not all perioperative professionals are familiar with the CVOR. But we're all familiar with the fundamentals of infection prevention. Here to highlight the specifics of infection prevention in cardiac surgery is Ruth Statchura, MBA, RN, Vice President of Business Development at C Change Surgical. In this episode, we'll discuss some of the common areas of infection risk, how we can avoid increasing those risks, and we'll uncover the changes in cardiac surgery that are improving patient outcomes. Tune in now! Love our show? Download our First Case mobile app...
Top 10: Trauma Surgery
When seconds matter and the unexpected becomes routine, trauma teams rise to the challenge. In this First Case Articles On-The-Go: Top 10 Trauma Surgery, Lindsay Joyce, MSN, RN, CNOR, highlights the foundational principles every perioperative professional should understand when facing trauma. From constant readiness and mastering Massive Transfusion Protocols to supporting anesthesia, coordinating multi-specialty teams, and preparing for both lifesaving intervention and end-of-life care, trauma surgery demands adaptability, precision, and true teamwork. Whether you work in a designated trauma center or a facility that only occasionally sees critical injuries, preparation is essential because trauma can happen anytime, anywhere.<...
Operation Collaboration: Clinical Coordinators - The Glue That Holds It All Together
As we wrap Season 18 of First Case, we turn the spotlight to the role that keeps everything moving behind the scenes: the Clinical Coordinator. In our final episode, Rod McArdle of Boston Children's Hospital shares how clinical coordinators balance scheduling, staffing, equipment, and real-time problem solving to keep surgical care running safely and efficiently. From anticipating equipment conflicts to coordinating with SPD, surgeons, and frontline teams, they are coordinating the moving pieces, communicating across teams, and thinking five steps ahead so the rest of us can focus on the patient in front of us. This...
Top 10: Pediatric Surgery
Caring for pediatric surgical patients requires more than simply adapting adult practices. It demands a specialized, family-centered approach. In this First Case: Articles On-The-Go episode, Lindsay Joyce, MSN, RN, CNOR, walks through essential fundamentals every perioperative nurse should know, from maintaining a warm OR and using weight-based medication dosing to protecting delicate skin, preparing for malignant hyperthermia, and partnering closely with child life specialists. The episode also highlights the emotional side of pediatric care, supporting not just the child, but the parents, while emphasizing the importance of communication, trust, and pediatric-specific competencies like PALS and NRP. Whether y...
Operation Collaboration: Vendor Reps - Partners in Surgical Care
"Where are your trays?" Few phrases spike stress levels faster, and often, all eyes turn to the person in the red hat. But what really happens behind the scenes before those trays ever reach your back table? In this powerful Operation: Collaboration episode, we pull back the curtain with medical device regional sales manager Bruce Finney to reveal the real world of vendor reps: high-pressure preparation, complex logistics, split-second problem solving, and the constant balance of being both essential to the team and still a guest in the room. From implants and instrumentation t...
Operation Collaboration: Facilities - The Infrastructure of Safe Patient Care
This week, we're stepping outside the OR and into the world of Facilities, the department quietly powering everything from air and water to electricity, pressure, and environmental safety. Without them, surgeries simply don't happen. Join us as we talk with seasoned facilities consultant Kathy Neal about how Facilities' teams keep the surgical environment safe, compliant, and running through power outages, HVAC challenges, regulatory demands, and even natural disasters. This conversation is a powerful reminder that collaboration across departments is what truly makes patient care possible. Tune in to learn more about the team working behind t...