Queens Hospital recognized for excellence in smoke evacuation and prevention of retained surgical items. Queens, NY — NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens has achieved a significant milestone by being recognized by the Association of Perioperative Registered Nurses (AORN) with two prestigious awards: the ‘Go Clear’ Award, designating the facility as a Center of Excellence in Surgical Safety: Smoke Evacuation, and the Center of Excellence in Surgical Safety: Prevention of Retained Surgical Items (RSI). Surgical smoke is a hazardous byproduct of any surgery involving a laser or an electrosurgical unit, and the Go Clear Award signifies that Queens Hospital’s surgical teams have successfully completed the comprehensive, evidence-based program and adopted technologies to ensure a surgical smoke-free environment for its patients and staff. Unintentionally retained surgical items, or RSIs, refer to any surgical sponge, instrument, tool, or device that is unintentionally left in the patient at the completion of a surgery or other procedure, and the Prevention of RSI award signifies the hospital has successfully completed the months-long comprehensive, evidence-based program. This dual recognition underscores the hospital’s unwavering commitment to providing high-quality and safe patient care. AORN’s Guidelines for Perioperative Practice serve as the gold standard for evidence-based recommendations, ensuring safe and effective perioperative patient care while safeguarding workplace safety.
