First Case Podcast

First Case Podcast

Clock in, scrub up, and join us behind the red line. We are First Case – an operating room podcast bringing you exciting interviews, engaging discussions, and innovative solutions that are changing the way patients receive surgical care. Each episode we talk to frontline staff, perioperative leadership, and nursing entrepreneurs from across the country as they share their stories, experience and expertise on an industry we love. From the back table to the board room, from wheels in to wheels out. -- we tackle the real-life issues affecting the OR. Whether you’re tuning in for surgical service education or inspiration, we’re glad you're here. And now, it’s time to roll back, and start the First Case…

Episodes

September 25, 2023 36 mins

What’s is like to leave a position in perioperative leadership and go back to working as an OR circulator?  If you ask Dr. Jessica Gruendler, DNP, RN-BC, CNOR, CPHQ, it’s wonderful! Jessica began her career in the operating room as a surgical tech, earned her nursing degree, and spent the last 20 years in perioperative leadership positions. She recently stepped back into the role of a staff nurse, and brought her leadership perspec...

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(Between Season 9 & 10, we're re-releasing some of our most popular interviews from Season 4!) How many times have you been burned because you set up based on what the preference card said? We’ve all done it, and we’re all a little leery of trusting our preference cards, because we expect them to be wrong. On today’s episode of First Case, we’re talking all things preference cards with Dr. Lenita Williamson, MD, CEO & Founder of Pr...

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“We don’t have enough space!” “Where is all of this old equipment supposed to go?” If this sounds familiar, and you’ve got a basement or warehouse full of old, unused equipment, then tune in to this eye-opening Vendor SpotlightTM with Ashl...

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Simulation is seen as a valuable educational resource to aid in staff development, but competing demands for time and resources can present challenges in incorporating this hands-on learning into perioperative education plans. Listen to this session from OR Manager Conference 2022 to learn new ways to work hands-on learning into your staffing schedule.

The next OR Manager Conference i...

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We've partnered with OR Manager to bring you a bonus special-release episode! Tune in to this session from OR Manager Conference 2022, Understanding Health Equity through Clinical Storytelling, to learn the historical precedence and the social determinants of health, how quality care delivery requires that clinicians listen to and respect their patients’ individual narratives, backgrounds, and experiences. T...

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Have you ever opened a tray and thought, “What happened to my instruments?!” Despite being a frustration, instruments that are damaged, broken, or have any staining or pitting can ultimately cause harm to our patients. We’re talking all things instruments today with Michael Matthews, Director of Customer Training and Education at Agiliti. Do you know why saline damages instruments? Do you know why spraying enzymatic cleaner on your...

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How do our body language, our situational awareness, and our ability to listen play into our ability to communicate? Find out in today’s interview with Kristy Wheeler, RN and OR Nurse Leader! Listening is a ...

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Have you ever grabbed a power tool off of your backtable only to be horrified when bioburden fell out of it? If you’ve ever experienced this, you’ll want to tune in to this First Case Vendor SpotlightT...

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What should I include on my resume? What questions should I be asking? Discover the answer to these questions and more in today’s interview with Krista Whiting, VP Read more

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Have you experienced bullying in your department? Whether you’ve witnessed it or experienced it...

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When a neurodivergent patient needs surgery, how do we communicate with them? Do we speak only to the caregiver, or do we take the time to talk with our patient? Teaching us about the communication needs o...

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How can we help children have a positive surgical ...

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“It’s on backorder.” How many times have you heard that answer when you asked why a needed supply wasn’t on the shelf? Wouldn’t it be better if your team knew ahead of time that items weren’t available, and they knew what steps were already being taken to resolve the issue? In today’s interview with Suzi Collins, Market Director of Supply Chain at Steward Healthcare, we’re going to be talking about the relation...

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July 12, 2023 4 mins

This week's episode of the First Case "Articles On-The-Go" series is written by Lindsey Joyce, MSN, RN, CNOR. In this article, Lindsey shares the Top 10 things you need to know if you're going to be working in Vascular Surgery.  


"Vascular can seem like a scary specialty, but using these ten tips that I'm going to share with you today will help you prepare yourself for these cases with confidence.

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When you have a Spanish-speaking patient, do you know how to communicate with them? Can you ask them basic questions, or do you freeze up and hope you can find someone who speaks Spanish who can help you out? In today’s episode we’re discussing the importance of communicating with Spanish-speaking patients with Meghan Codd, Spanish communication coach for healthcare providers and founder of Mi Vida Spanish. Meg...

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What is the secret to happiness? The answer, according to Dr. Michael Redler, Orthopedic Surgeon at Connecticut Orthopedics, is great communication. Communicating effectively sets the tone for our whole day in the Operating Room. Do we have the supplies needed for a case? Did the right grafts or implants get brought in? Was everyone in the room treated with respect and recognized as a valuable contributor to th...

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In this Special Release before we kick off Season 8, tune in to this session from the 2022 OR Manager Conference to learn tips, insights and perspectives on successfully climbing the leadership ladder. The next conference is September 18-20, 2023 in Nashville, TN. Check out the agenda and register at www.ormanagerconference.com. Use code PODCAST and save!

Love our show? Download our First Case mobile app on: 📲
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Surgical gloves make it possible for us to safely operate on patients every single day. However, persistent exposure to latex gloves increases the risk of a latex reaction for patients and clinicians alike. In today’s First Case Vendor SpotlightTM, we’re speaking with Dr. Rosemary Sergakis, Global Medical Science Lead (US) at Cardinal Health about the exposure risks associated with latex surgical...

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This week's episode of the First Case "Articles On-The-Go" series is in partnership with OR Manager. In this interview with Mike Ellrich, healthcare portfolio manager and principal consultant with analytics and advisory company Gallup in Washington DC, learn 5 keys to effective well-being in the OR. Plus, learn why OR suites can benefit from a well-being program!

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How many times do you touch the privacy curtains in the pre-op or PACU? How many times per day do you think those curtains get touched? Do you know how clean they are, or how often they get changed out? In today’s conversation with Karen Goelst, Founder and CEO at KleenEdge, we’re talking about high-touch surfaces, how they correlate to hospital acquired infections, and the downstream consequences of design. We’ll also look at what...

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