Thoughts on a Safe, Compliant, and Effective Laser Safety Program: Part 1a
The Key! The Importance of the Medical LSO or Laser Safety Officer (LSO)
As we enter a brave new world of healthcare challenges, we look to innovation and seek responsible avenues to provide the latest of technologies and clinical/ surgical approaches that not only provide advantages to our patients and physicians for best clinical outcomes, but also to expose opportunities that contribute to positive economic outcomes for the facility that considers and embraces these advances.
One area of medical/ surgical technologies that plays an important role in many surgical applications is the use of lasers. Many laser devices (including most surgical lasers and laser systems) are potentially dangerous and require specific safety awareness and management of the known risks for the specific laser system. With this technology, however, comes the need to appreciate, respect, understand compliance issues and be able to properly implement a safety management program specifically related to these risks. With a well thought out risk management program the healthcare facility can provide the proper care, operation, and handling of the laser system that can translate into best possible patient outcomes, better physician and staff satisfaction, and will certainly also contribute to equipment longevity, increased revenue and decreased costs to the facility, overall.
Laser energy and delivery systems have always been important partners with the continued advancement of minimally invasive medical/ surgical approaches. We are witnessing a quiet tsunami of advances of these devices with new and more efficient wavelengths, miniaturization of systems and amazing state of the art optical coupling and delivery systems. It is exciting, but the downside to this is the fact that many facilities are left unaware of the advances, complexities, and how to help the facility navigate these new waters. This challenge also includes the important task of advancing with technical confidence/ competence and understanding how to incorporate this technology safely (meeting compliance standards). A vibrant and dynamic laser program requires a healthy safety culture that includes a foundational knowledge base, strong and competent leadership, and support from the facility.
To peer into this this brave new world responsibly, facilities need informed input from non-biased sources that can help integrate the clinical needs and surgeon requests, patient needs, but also to help ensure that the growth of the program will make sense economically for the facility long term. A facility or hospital must be able to evaluate existing technology, along with future technology while building the most important asset of healthcare which is a staff that is involved and engaged. The successful LSO leader is well prepared and will utilize staff strengths and desires to be a part of a supported healthcare team that provides excellent patient care in an environment that focuses on not only revenue but also positive patient outcomes and safety for all. The proper development of the successful LSO and laser program requires long term commitment to ensure that the program is based on the proper fundamentals and decisions centered on the best patient outcomes and health of the facility as well.
What is the primary foundation building block for a medical Laser Safety Program? Without a doubt, the answer to the above question is a properly trained LSO. This individual should be carefully selected and administratively supported. This step is the primary key to ensuring good patient outcomes, safety, compliance, cost effectiveness, and building high physician and staff confidence relating to your laser program. Although the laser safety program is primarily focused on safety, this program can and should be focused on much more than just laser safety. It should be able to not only contribute to a healthy safety culture for your medical/ surgical environment but also contribute to a culture of team-based inclusion and cost-effective behaviors based on knowledge and a core competency which adds depth to the success of any surgical team environment. This is the core of the laser management and safety program. A successful laser program embraces these concepts together.
GCA Laser Safety