First Case

11/20/2025

We talk a lot about the pressures for faster turnovers in the OR, but this a powerful reminder:

Sterile processing isn’t a quick task, a shortcut opportunity, or a “just hurry it up” situation. It’s a complex, multi-step, safety-critical process that protects every patient who comes through our operating rooms.

When we understand the science, the workflow, and the attention required at every stage, we become better partners across departments, and ultimately, it helps us to deliver safer care.

Listen to the full episode with Bobby Parker here: https://educate.beyondclean.net/48n0QjM

11/19/2025

It's hard to believe that Thanksgiving is next week! 🦃 As we head into the holiday, it’s a good time to reflect on the many things we’re grateful for, both personally and professionally. In the latest First Case Articles on the Go, Melanie highlights a thoughtful (and relatable) Top 10 list of things we appreciate most about working in the operating room.

👉 Take a moment to listen to the full article and consider what you’re most thankful for in your own practice this year! https://educate.beyondclean.net/4ra7u46

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Articles On-the-Go presents perioperative insights from written articles in a creative, easy to listen, audio format. Think audio book, meets busy Operating Room professional!

11/18/2025

A new study in JAMA Surgery shows that “prehabilitation” - preparing your body and mind before an operation - can dramatically improve outcomes, especially when it’s personalized.

Patients who received twice-weekly one-on-one coaching (vs. standard pre-surgery advice) saw stronger physical and mental fitness, fewer complications, and even healthier, more balanced immune responses heading into surgery. Only 4 out of 27 coached patients experienced complications compared to 11 in the standard group.

From tailored exercise and nutrition guidance to stress-reduction support, personalized prehab helped patients show up to surgery with more resilience physically, mentally, and immunologically.

Read the full article to learn why even small lifestyle tweaks for our patients before surgery could make a big difference in recovery: https://educate.beyondclean.net/3LIQ12I

11/17/2025

🎧 https://educate.beyondclean.net/43URGIT 🎧 // This week on First Case, we’re joined by Bobby Parker from Beyond Clean to tackle a major perioperative myth: instrument reprocessing is quick and easy.

Using real workflow examples and years of SPD leadership experience, Bobby breaks down the full lifecycle of an instrument tray, from decontam to assembly to sterilization, and explains why a safe, compliant turnaround simply can’t be rushed.

Tune in to learn more about what really happens in sterile processing, why safe turnaround times matter, and how better OR–SPD collaboration can prevent delays and protect patients.

11/14/2025

✨ 𝗙𝘂𝗻 𝗙𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗙𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘆: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗕𝗲𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗛𝗶𝗯𝗯𝘀 𝗥𝗲𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿

If you’ve worked in the operating room for any length of time, chances are that you've used a Hibbs retractor. But have you ever wondered where it came from or how it got its name?

Dr. Russell A. Hibbs (1869–1932) was a Kentucky-born orthopedic surgeon whose work helped shape early spine surgery. Historical analyses of surgical instruments note that the Hibbs retractor was designed for inter-laminar exposure, supporting the evolving techniques of spine fusion.

Around 1911, Hibbs introduced one of the earliest successful spinal fusion procedures for patients with tuberculosis of the spine (Pott’s disease), a groundbreaking advancement in care. Although the exact year he introduced the instrument isn’t documented, published reviews confirm that the retractor emerged from this innovative period in his surgical practice.

So whenever you use a Hibbs retractor, remember that it carries a legacy of surgical innovation that began more than a century ago.

11/12/2025

Happy Perioperative Nurses Week!

Have you ever wondered how this week of celebration came about? Find out in today's blog!

https://educate.beyondclean.net/4nNKZiw

11/11/2025

11/10/2025

🎧 https://educate.beyondclean.net/49Nbp0u 🎧// We’ve all heard it: “Nothing to eat or drink after midnight.” But what if that long-standing rule isn’t the best thing for our patients? 🤔

In this week’s episode of First Case, we sit down with Lisa Spruce, Senior Director of Evidence-Based Perioperative Practice at AORN, to challenge one of the most ingrained habits in surgical care.

Together, we'll walk through the research behind Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocols, which are evidence-based practices designed to optimize patients before, during, and after surgery. From preoperative nutrition to multimodal pain management and early mobility, ERAS is helping teams across the country reduce complications, shorten recovery times, and improve outcomes.

Tune in to learn:
✅ Why strict NPO after midnight is outdated
✅ How ERAS protocols enhance safety and satisfaction
✅ Practical steps for implementing evidence-based change in your facility

Tune in to learn and together we can move past an old idea and implement evidence-based practices!

11/07/2025

𝗙𝘂𝗻 𝗙𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗙𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘆: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗕𝗲𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗯𝗯 𝗘𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿

Dr. John Robert Cobb (1903–1967), an orthopedic surgeon at the Hospital for the Ruptured and Crippled in New York City (now the Hospital for Special Surgery), is best known for developing the Cobb angle, the standard measurement for evaluating spinal curvature in scoliosis. But his contributions extended beyond diagnosis.

During the 1930s, as spinal surgery techniques evolved, Dr. Cobb recognized the need for a reliable instrument to elevate the periosteum and paraspinal muscles from bone while maintaining control and minimizing tissue trauma. To solve this challenge, he designed the Cobb Elevator, a simple, balanced tool that allowed for controlled, effective subperiosteal dissection.

This new instrument quickly became a standard tool in spine and orthopedic procedures. And now, nearly a century later, the Cobb Elevator remains an essential part of our surgcal instrument trays and surgical practice.

11/06/2025

Behind every product on the shelf is a rigorous process of evaluation, collaboration, and clinical reasoning led by value analysis professionals. From balancing patient safety to managing supply chain and cost, these decisions are anything but simple.

🎧 Listen to the full conversation with Joe Chua as we unpack how healthcare teams work together to ensure the right products reach the right patients at the right time.

https://educate.beyondclean.net/4hFARap

11/05/2025

Ever wonder how lessons from the operating room can apply outside of medicine? 🤔 On a recent flight, a casual chat with a flight attendant revealed just how much the worlds of surgery and aviation have in common, from temperature control to safety checklists.

Read the full story on how First Case is reaching new audiences beyond the OR walls! https://educate.beyondclean.net/3JbNX2r

11/03/2025

🎧 https://educate.beyondclean.net/4ohQMOv 🎧 // Behind every product on the OR shelf is a story of collaboration, evaluation, and evidence-based decision-making, not just a surgeon’s request.

This week we sit down with Joe Chua, OR Nurse and Value Analysis Professional from Dallas, Texas, to unpack the complex process of how surgical products make it from idea to implementation.

Together, we'll explore the intersection of clinical practice and supply chain strategy, the importance of communication between teams, and the critical role of value analysis in supporting patient safety and financial stewardship.

If you’ve ever wondered how product decisions are really made in healthcare, you won’t want to miss this conversation.