UM BWMC Wins Go Clear Award for Eliminating Surgical Smoke

UM BWMC was recently awarded the Gold Level Go Clear Award™ by the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN). This award is national recognition for safety in surgery because the medical center is committed to providing increased surgical patient and health care worker safety. This has been done by implementing practices that eliminate smoke caused by the use of lasers and electrosurgery devices during surgery.

Surgical smoke is a hazardous material full of unwanted by-products from the energy-generating devices that are used in 90% of all surgeries. The smoke may contain toxic chemicals like benzene, formaldehyde, hydrogen cyanide and carbon monoxide, viruses, bacteria, blood and cancer cells. Inhalation and absorption of surgical smoke can pose health risks to patients and surgical staff. To counteract the smoke, exhaust machines have been installed and other protocols have been put into place to cut down on emissions and create a smoke-free operating room.

"The OR team at UM BWMC is proud to be taking strides to make our operating room a safer place for our patients and staff. The Go Clear Award™ is the culmination of efforts of a team that goes above and beyond for our patients and we are proud to be recognized for implementing a safer surgical environment,” said Paula Loane, MSN, RN, PCCN. Loane, along with Arkaime Kess, RN CNOR, has been leading the surgical smoke-free program. UM BWMC is only the second hospital in the state to win this award and the first in the University of Maryland Medical System. UM BWMC's team is being consulted by other hospitals, leading the way to a wider smoke-free community in Maryland.