NEWS
TCI HOSPITAL ACHIEVES INTERNATIONAL GOLD RANKING FOR SMOKE-FREE OPERATING THEATRES Turks and Caicos Islands is the first country in the Caribbean to receive this award level. InterHealth Canada - Turks and Caicos Islands
Since inception, the operating theatres have been
Hospital has earned the Go Clear Award™ - Gold
equipped with the medical devices and resources
Level for its achievement in the elimination of
necessary to evacuate surgical smoke during all
hazardous smoke during surgical procedures.
smoke-generating procedures.
The Go Clear Award is presented by the Association
Surgical smoke is the unwanted by-product of energy-
of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN) to recognize health care facilities that have committed
generating devices that are used in 90% of all surgeries. Its contents include toxic chemicals such as
to practices that eliminate smoke caused by the use
benzene, formaldehyde, hydrogen cyanide and carbon
of lasers and electrosurgery devices during surgery.
monoxide, viruses, bacteria, blood and cancer cells.
Gold level is the highest rank achievable under the program.
Inhalation and absorption of surgical smoke pose serious health risks to patients and surgical staff.
The AORN is the leader in advocating for excellence
Studies compare the inhalation of smoke from
in perioperative practice and healthcare. The hospital
vaporized human tissue to the smoke created by
submitted one-year of data as evidence that the
cigarettes; the average daily impact of surgical smoke to the surgical team is equivalent to inhaling 27-30
comprehensive requirements established by the AORN related to smoke evacuation were met.
unfiltered cigarettes.
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