Thirteen members of the Dosher Operating Room team pose with the award from AORN for eradicating surgical smoke.

Dosher earns 2nd national award for safety in surgery

The Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN) has presented Dosher the Association's Go Clear Award™ for eliminating hazardous smoke from the Dosher operating rooms. Dosher is one of only 17 hospitals in the U.S. to earn this recognition. AORN cited Dosher and the others for increasing the safety of surgical patients, staff and surgeons by eradicating smoke caused by lasers and electrosurgery devices used during 90 percent of all surgeries.

"We're committed to the health and safety of our patients, operating room staff, and physicians. This national award underscores our focus on quality care," Carol Northup, RN, MA, CENP, VP of Patient Care, says. "Thanks to Department of Surgery Director Kim York, RN, for leading the effort to eradicate surgical smoke."

After Dosher implemented a program last year to remove smoke in the operating rooms, Outpatient Surgery magazine was the first to present an award for this safety move.

The hospital projects that more than 2,000 inpatient and outpatient surgeries will be performed at Dosher this year.