First Case Podcast

In this week's edition of Articles on the Go, Chris Blevins, CST, FAST, draws a creative parallel between the strategic world of football and the high-stakes environment of the operating room. Just like a zone defense on the field, infection prevention in surgery relies on teamwork, precision, communication, and adaptability. From the offensive line to the surgical team, every player has a critical role in preventing complications and protecting the "end zone" — patient safety.

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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!

#operatingroom #ornurse #scrubtech #infectionprevention #surgery

When it comes to patient safety, we scrutinize every instrument—but how often do we scrutinize the water used to clean them? In today's First Case Vendor SpotlightTM, we're addressing that critical, yet often overlooked, factor in our surgical and sterile processing outcome - water quality. Joining us is Jeffrey Paquet, CEO of VERDA Water Quality Systems, a leader in developing comprehensive water management solutions for healthcare environments.

If you've ever questioned the cause behind pitting, staining, or spotting on your instruments—or wondered how infrastructure changes can impact sterile processing—this episode will provide the answers! our conversation today will take a closer look at the intersection of water quality and perioperative care, and we'll examine the implications of water quality on surgical instrument integrity, infection prevention, and overall patient safety. We'll also explore the recently released ANSI/AAMI ST108 standard, how it aligns with and enhances existing guidelines such as those from AORN, and why compliance with this standard is becoming increasingly vital—particularly in states like New Jersey where it is now regulatory.

VERDA Water Quality Systems is helping facilities move beyond fragmented, siloed approaches to water management by offering an integrated, system-wide strategy designed to improve outcomes, reduce risk, and support regulatory compliance.

To learn more, visit https://verdawater.com/contact/ and to schedule your free assessment. You can also follow VERDA on LinkedIn!

#operatingroom #waterquality #podcast #vendorspotlight #ornurse #perioperativenurse #scrubtech #surgicaltechnologist

On this episode of our StreetClothes human-interest podcast series, we talk to a healthcare professional whose passion for two wheels brings freedom, focus, and a whole lot of fuel to life outside the hospital. From the thrill of the throttle to the quietness of the long ride, this rider has discovered that nothing clears the mind quite like a full tank and the open road.

Tune in to hear how Jennifer Barnickel unplugs and reconnects one curve, one gear, and one mile at a time…

If you like this series OR have an interesting side-hustle, passion project, or hobby you do outside of your hospital day job that keeps you inspired, refreshed, and motivated, we'd love to hear from you! Message Hank Balch on LinkedIn for a chance to come on the show and share it with the world!

#StreetClothes #Hobbies #SideHustles #PeopleMatter #Healthcare #BeyondClean #FirstCase #PowerSupply #TransmissionControl #HealthcareHQ

Surgical smoke isn't just unpleasant—it's dangerous.

In our latest First Case: Articles on the Go episode, we shed light on the harmful particles released during common surgical procedures—and the risks they pose to perioperative professionals.

Despite decades of research confirming the presence of carcinogens, mutagens, and infectious material in surgical smoke, consistent regulation and protection remain lacking in many ORs.

This episode explores:

• The health hazards associated with surgical smoke exposure

• The importance of smoke evacuation systems

• Legislative progress across the U.S.

• How perioperative professionals can educate, advocate, and drive change

Listen now!

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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!

#operatingroom #perioperativenurse #firesafety #fireprevention #surgery #scrubtech #surgicaltechnology

On this episode of our StreetClothes podcast series, we talk to two healthcare professionals who find comfort, creativity, and a little pinch of calm in the art of baking. Whether it's homemade bagels, a failed bundt cake, or family traditions passed down through generations, these self-taught bakers have each discovered their own flavor of joy in the kitchen.

Tune in to hear how Vanessa Frank & Chelsea Wolner are keeping things sweet outside their 9-to-5s—one pie, muffin, and cookie at a time…

If you like this series OR have an interesting side-hustle, passion project, or hobby you do outside of your hospital day job that keeps you inspired, refreshed, and motivated, we'd love to hear from you! Message Hank Balch on LinkedIn for a chance to come on the show and share it with the world!

#StreetClothes #Hobbies #SideHustles #PeopleMatter #Healthcare #BeyondClean #FirstCase #PowerSupply #TransmissionControl #HealthcareHQ

Surgical fires remain a serious—yet preventable—risk in the operating room. One critical safety measure? Adhering to the recommended dry times for alcohol-based prep solutions.

In this episode of First Case: Articles on the Go, we examine the evidence behind dry time protocols, their role in preventing OR fires and surgical site infections, and the importance of following manufacturer guidelines.

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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!

#operatingroom #perioperativenurse #firesafety #fireprevention #surgery #scrubtech #surgicaltechnology

Autopsy tech Amanda Krygier joins us in the First Case season finale to pull back the curtain on a rarely discussed, deeply meaningful part of patient care - postmortem care.

From collecting organs and evidence to comforting grieving families with answers, Amanda shares how compassion continues— even after life ends.

In this episode, we explore: 🧠 What autopsy techs actually do ⚖️ How they handle criminal cases & evidence 🩺 Why empathy matters, even in death

Tune in now to learn more about the final chapter of patient care.

#operatingroom #ornurse #surgery #scrubtech #perioperativenurse

What happens when the patient on your OR table is an inmate —or a victim of violent crime? 👮‍♂️

This week, we sit down with David Bowman, faculty with the School of Legal Studies at South College in Tennessee, to explore the legal, ethical, and emotional challenges of treating these patients. From chain of custody to managing personal bias, this episode is a must-listen for every perioperative professional.

#FirstCasePodcast #PerioperativeNursing #TraumaCare #SurgicalTeam #LegalStudies #PatientCare #NursingEducation

On this episode of the StreetClothes podcast series, we talk to a healthcare professional whose passion project is generating some serious buzz in his own backyard! With 31 hives and counting, this busy bee has discovered the joy—minus the occasional sting—and the liquid gold rewards of working with nature's busiest pollinators.

Tune in to hear how Cody Troutt's adventures in beekeeping bring the sweetest kind of work-life balance to life beyond the hospital…

If you like this series OR have an interesting side-hustle, passion project, or hobby you do outside of your hospital day job that keeps you inspired, refreshed, and motivated, we'd love to hear from you! Message Hank Balch on LinkedIn for a chance to come on the show and share it with the world!

#StreetClothes #Hobbies #SideHustles #PeopleMatter #Healthcare #BeyondClean #FirstCase #PowerSupply #TransmissionControl #HealthcareHQ

In this week's episode of First Case, perioperative consultant Vangie Dennis joins us to explore how generational differences impact patient care. From Traditionalists to Gen Z, each group brings unique values, communication styles, and expectations into the surgical setting. Learn how to tailor your approach, improve patient engagement, and avoid common missteps across the generational spectrum.

#operatingroom #perioperative #perioperativenurse #generationalcare #podcast #ornurse #nurse #scrubtech #surgicaltech