The Operating Room PSA came in at 0600 and noted that there was a significant amount of water leaking and flooding into the Operating Room Sterile Storage area. The PSA immediately contacted the Operating Room Nurse Manager who came in early to assess the situation. When entering the sterile storage area, it was apparent that not only was there water covering a good portion of the floor, but there was a good portion of the ceiling that was retaining water and the ceiling tiles were about to break open. Word spread quickly amongst the Operating Room staff who quickly jumped in to assist with moving sterile supplies in order to protect them. Once the sterile supplies got wet, they would have to be disposed of, and many of the operating room supplies are on backorder. Every operating room staff member assisted with moving everything out of the sterile storage area. Once everything was moved out, the Logistics team came in and began to assess the loss and accessioning the items out for disposal, and immediately acted on ordering replacement supplies. More than 96% of the sterile supplies were protected and saved from water contamination.

However, the job did not end there. There was a full board of surgical cases that were scheduled for that day. The operating room team, the surgeons, and anesthesia conducted a huddle to assess each case, as well as worked to formulate a plan on how to proceed safely with OR cases that day. The OR team cleaned out two OR rooms so that they could organize and store all of the sterile supplies in a temperature and humidity-controlled and monitored environment while construction began in the sterile storage area. The operating room staff, nurses, and surgical technicians worked together to create a workable arrangement for all of the sterile supplies that would be needed to support any emergent patient care that might walk through the FHCC Emergency Department at any time day or night. They created clear aisles of sterile supplies and emergency equipment, while taking an inventory and mapping out where everything was so that every staff member would know where to find their supplies in case of emergency. It is an immense undertaking to take all of the sterile supplies that would normally fit into one large room and then create three supply rooms out of two operating rooms and the anesthesia work room. However, the team worked together to collaborate and plan their contingency with success. While many of the cases that day had to be rescheduled, there were two rooms that the operating room was able to continue using, ensuring that the urgent cases were completed that day. In addition, this plan was able to continue the next day with great success and continued patient care.

During this time of chaos and a situation that was out of the hands of anyone within the operating room, the team was able to efficiently organize and prioritize the care of patients at the FHCC. They saved countless taxpayer dollars by acting quickly and saving more than 96% of the sterile supplies in the perioperative area. They ensured constant readiness of the operating room suite at the FHCC with no diversion of services. I believe that this team is the epitome of teamwork and patient-centered care.