posted
on 2/21/2025
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Press Releases
The Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN), representing more than 200,000 surgical nurses nationwide, has named St. Anthony Regional Hospital a Center of Excellence in Surgical Safety: Smoke Evacuation. This award recognizes St. Anthony for its commitment to patient and workplace safety by taking a comprehensive approach to ensuring a smoke-free environment wherever surgical smoke is generated.
AORN’s Go Clear Award signifies that St. Anthony's surgical teams have successfully completed the comprehensive, evidence-based program and adopted technologies to ensure a surgical smoke-free environment for patients and staff.
“Surgical smoke occurs every day in operating rooms and poses health risks to those exposed to it. AORN created this program so that every facility can understand the urgency and take steps to protect the health and safety of patients, nurses, doctors and support staff,” said AORN CEO & Executive Director Linda Groah, MSN, RN, CNOR, NEA-BC, FAAN. “This Center of Excellence for Surgical Safety designation shows the community that the surgical teams at St. Anthony are committed to providing high-quality care.”
Surgical smoke is a hazardous byproduct of any surgery involving a laser or an electrosurgical unit. Although research, professional organizations, and the federal Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) identified surgical smoke as harmful many years ago, this byproduct continues to be a safety hazard in the operating room. The Center of Excellence in Surgical Safety: Smoke Evacuation (Go ClearTM) Program was developed to help perioperative teams improve safety efforts and protect staff and patients from the hazards of surgical smoke.
“This recognition affirms our dedication to ensuring the safest possible environment for both our patients and surgical teams,” said Sara Gonnerman, Vice President of Patient Services at St. Anthony. “By committing to surgical smoke evacuation, we are living out our mission to provide exceptional care while prioritizing safety and well-being.”
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