Sharps Safety — Are We on the Cutting Edge?

How many sharps injuries occur in your facilities per week? Which items cause the most injuries and on what units? How many have resulted in transmission of diseases that have immediate and lifelong implications to patients or practitioners? It is not unusual that grassroots health care workers, managers, even administrators do not have this information. This information gap limits the position of sharps safety on the organization’s priority agenda. This presentation will examine the role of the three major actors in the sharps safety saga; patient, practitioner and industry. Attendees will evaluate their facilities’ blood borne pathogen exposure plan and sharps safety program against best practice and regulatory requirements, consider industry partnerships, and identify how each supports patient and practitioner safety.

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Sharon A. McNamara is an internationally recognized speaker and consultant on perioperative practice. McNamara is an owner and consultant for OR Dx + Rx Solutions for Surgical Safety consulting firm, coordinator of a patient safety column for the AORN Journal and collaborative coach for the North Carolina Quality Center.