Today is the final day of the AORN's 56th annual Congress. Over the last two days we have had a lot of people ask us about the sample pink exam glove, “Generation Pink,” that we gave out to the 1,000 nurses who attended our “Together We Can Save Lives Through Early Detection” breakfast forum Monday morning. You can read the event blog entry here. We developed the bright pink exam glove as a symbol to promote early detection and awareness of breast cancer, and expect it to be available nationwide this fall. You may not know it, but Medline has been quietly supplying O.R.s across the country with electrosurgical products for the last decade. Medline’s electrosurgery program includes pencils, stainless steel and PTFE tips and Bovie generators. Last year Medline became the sole U.S. supplier of 3M electrosurgical grounding pads and accessories.

The National Quality Forum has identified burn prevention as one of the top-five safety measures for surgery centers. One analysis of closed malpractice claims by the American Society of Anesthesiologists shows that of 145 claims for burn injuries, 31% were from electrical tools used for cauterization.

The 3M green Safety Ring technology available on the Universal Pad (9100 Series) reduces heat build up at the edge of the pad by more uniformly dispersing electrosurgical current and heat over the entire surface of the pad. The pad measures just 15 inches square, making it very easy to place. The backing provides an additional layer of patient safety by allowing heat to escape 25% faster than the foam backing used on traditional grounding pads, and the pad meets the same thermal performance standards as traditional pads that are up to 33 percent larger in conductive surface area. You can find out more about Medline’s electrosurgery program here. One of the biggest problems nurses tell us about the management of their supplies – and we observe on-site at hospitals – is the inefficiency of storing and accessing anesthesia supplies. The supplies are often overflowing or disorganized in the drawers and some products are even outdated. In our booth this year we are highlighting our new creative solution – Medline’s Anesthesia Complete Delivery System (ACDS).



ACDS is an extremely easy-to-use supply management system designed to increase staff productivity, inventory control, improve charge/cost capture and enhance compliance with JCAHO, AORN and SCIP. Traditionally, facilities order supplies in case quantities and refill drawers as they empty. ACDS includes a replenishment drawer that is filled with the anesthesia products you need for your procedures with the quantities you require. The drawers will fit inside your existing anesthesia case carts for easy insertion or removal. We heard from a lot of nurses that concern over hygienic security was a hot topic regarding surgical instrument containers. We are featuring in our booth Steriset and TASKIT containers, the best containers available in terms of hygienic security, ease of use and long-term cost savings. This is the only system available that completely eliminates disposable filters and wraps, eliminating the possibility of punctures, tears and pinholes associated with disposable wrap. Plus, their sturdy, stackable design allows convenient storage of sterile instruments.

The lightweight aluminum body quickly dissipates heat, cooling the container before transport. TASKIT containers are designed specifically for smaller, more delicate instruments and sets. An assortment of inner trays, silicone mats and other accessories helps you customize your system.