Survey conducted by AORN for HEATJAC, LLC in September 2019:

1500 perioperative nurses questioned. A total of 105 responded. No fees were paid to those who responded. Just a very simple survey, seven questions long to take less than a minute to complete.

• How many years have you worked in the OR? – 89.52% responded 10 years or more.
• What rooms (surgical specialties) have you worked in? – General – 88.57%, Orthopedics – 80.95%, Spine – 68.57%, Neuro – 59.05%, Cardio-Thoracic – 41.90%
• Does your hospital use forced-air patient warming systems to keep anesthetized patients warm in cold Operating Rooms? – 96.19% responded Yes and 3.81% responded No
• Have you ever used the hose of a forced-air patient warming system to keep yourself warm in a cold Operating Room? 14.29% responded Yes and 85.71% responded No
• Have you ever seen someone else use the hose of a forced-air patient warming system to keep themselves warm in a cold Operating Room? 74.29% responded Yes and 25.71% responded No
• Are you frequently cold in the Operating Room? 56.19% responded Yes and 43.81% responded No
• Are you frequently warm in the Operating Room? 35.24% responded Yes and 64.76% responded No

In light of this please review the study conducted by my CRO entitled:

An Observational Study Evaluating Infection Risk in Two Staff Warming Devices and a Review of Current Literature into Thermal Comfort in the Operating Room and Beyond(READ ARTICLE)

The Solution:

• An immediate discontinuation of the practice of using the hose of a forced-air patient warming system to keep warm in the OR.
• There exist products designed for OR personnel to help them keep warm in a cold OR, and in addition, products for those who are too warm, to keep themselves cooler. Products recommended for anesthesia providers and perfusionists: The Operationheatjac Products recommended for perioperative nurses: The Operationheatjac Original Vest. New Operationheatjac products on the horizon from HEATJAC, LLC. A disposable garment that can do both, provide cooling for the surgeon and for those nurses who are too warm, and provide heating for anesthesia providers, perfusionists and perioperative nurses who are too cold. Currently we have a re-usable cooling product for surgeons and nurses.

Benefits:

• Eliminate cold as a distraction and the errors that can result. Drug errors can occur at a rate of 5%.
• An appreciated staff will be a staff who goes the full 100 yards in doing their jobs.
• As a result of #2, an increase in patient satisfaction will be realized.
• Save money on laundry as staff will no longer need to use blankets needed for patients to keep warm.
• Decrease the level of airborne bacteria and the obvious resultant increase in SSIs generated.
• As a result of #5 a significant savings will be realized as management of these infections amounts to a huge loss of revenue.
• Most importantly, there will be less patients having to go through the pure misery of having a SSI.
• Hospitals and Surgery Centers can keep their existing Forced-Air patient warming systems!!