Staff report
The recent OR Today Product Showcase webinar “McGan Insulation Tester: What Every OR Nurse Should Know” was sponsored by Healthmark. The session featured the McGan Insulation Tester and pertinent insights every nurse should have regarding insulation testing.
Presenter Kevin Anderson, MBA, BSN, RN, CNOR, CRCST, CHL, CIS, CER, is the senior manager, commercial education services with Healthmark, A Getinge company.
When it comes to patient safety, the integrity of your electrosurgical instruments isn’t optional – it’s essential. AAMI ST79 makes it clear: “Instrumentation intended for use with electric current should be tested for integrity each time it is processed.” But in busy hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers, insulation testing can be an overlooked step … until a costly or harmful event occurs.
Anderson shared what he wishes he had known as an OR nurse, giving attendees the tools to advocate in real time and stop a burn before it causes a perforation during surgery.
During the live demo, which is now available for on-demand streaming at ORToday.com, he shared key takeaways that can make all the difference in the operating room. Attendees heard firsthand how the easy-to-use McGan Insulation Tester detects and pinpoints defects in instrument coating. He also highlighted the range of McGan accessories designed to enhance testing efficiency and accommodate various instrument types.
The webinar was a hit with more than 100 individuals registered and attendees gave the session a positive 4.1 out of 5 rating via a post-webinar survey. The survey also asked attendees, “What was your single biggest takeaway from today’s product showcase?”
“I wish everyone who reprocesses insulated instruments had this knowledge,” said Lori Chabot, national director sterile processing inspection with Ascension.
“How important it is to ensure every staff member is testing every device every time,” said Molly Jenks, manager, Sharon Hospital.
“The need for insulation testing,” said Jo Ann Severini, a retired OR Nurse.
“That there is a way to test the wiring inside and not just the insulation on the outside,” said Diane Maestas, an RMD coordinator with NMVAHCS.
“The number of damaged instruments that are not caught before usage,” said Laurie Roderiques, director clinical services, IP, Ambulatory Healthcare Strategies.
Alison Scholten, RN, with Trinity Health Saint Mary’s Hospital in Michigan earned knowledge and won a prize during the webinar. She won an OR Today lunch cooler bag.
For more information about OR Today webinars, visit ORTodaywebinars.live.
