When the pandemic reduced surgical volumes at Tampa General Hospital, TeamHealth’s perioperative team put their available operating rooms to use by implementing a new airway management process.
The rooms were converted into intubation rooms where a CRNA, outfitted in full PPE, administered rapid-sequence intubation to avoid ventilating patients. After they induced the patient and established an airway a viral filter was taped into place before the patient was moved to the OR. This technique meant surgical teams could immediately begin procedures instead of losing valuable time waiting outside for the OR’s air filtration system to complete a full cycle.
This unique approach to crisis management successfully and safely addressed critical intubation needs while conserving PPE and reducing the anxiety of surgical team members worried about being exposed to COVID-19.
“We were able to watch what was going on in New York, New Jersey and Europe and learn quickly. We knew we had to pivot and make some changes in order to conserve PPE.” – Nicole Hubbard, Chief CRNA
Additional innovation for hospital staff and the community
CRNAs at Tampa General are masters of creativity. They realized an abundance of sterile blue wrap from surgical instruments was being discarded and found a way to repurpose it for masks to be used in other parts of the hospital.
In addition, the warm, water-resistant material was used to create sleeping bags for the homeless population in Tampa. Over the past year, this idea has been shared with over 20 other hospitals nationwide.
About TeamHealth
At TeamHealth, our purpose is to perfect the practice of medicine, every day, in everything we do. We are proud to be the leading integrated physician practice in the U.S., driven by our commitment to quality and safety and supported by our world-class operating team. To improve the experience of our physicians and advanced practice clinicians, we empower clinicians to act on what they believe is right, free clinicians from distractions so they can focus on patient care, invest in learning and development to promote growth in the clinical field and foster an environment where continuous improvement is a shared priority. Through our more than 15,500 affiliated physicians and advanced practice clinicians, TeamHealth offers emergency medicine, hospital medicine, critical care, anesthesiology, orthopedic surgery, general surgery, obstetrics, inpatient psychiatry, ambulatory care, post-acute/behavioral health care and medical call center solutions to approximately 2,900 acute and post-acute facilities and physician groups nationwide. Learn more at www.teamhealth.com.