CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Hospital – New Braunfels Earns National Recognition for Safety in Surgery

March 9, 2023

New Braunfels, TX – CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Hospital – New Braunfels has earned the Go Clear Award for its achievement in eliminating hazardous smoke from its surgical procedures.

The Go Clear Award is presented by the Association of perioperative Registered Nurses (AORN) to recognize health care facilities that have committed to providing increased surgical patient and health care worker safety by implementing practices that eliminate smoke caused by lasers and electrosurgery devices during surgery.

Surgical smoke is the unwanted byproduct of energy-generating devices that are used in 90% of all surgeries. Surgical smoke can include toxic chemicals su

ch as benzene, formaldehyde, hydrogen cyanide and carbon monoxide, viruses, bacteria, blood and cancer cells.

“We are very excited to be one of the first hospitals in the region to achieve this award,” said. Crystal Collins, MSN, RN, CNOR administrative director of surgical services for CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Hospital – New Braunfels. “This award required extensive training and education by our associates and ensures our hospital continues to align with the most up-to-date safety initiatives. We are proud to continue to serve New Braunfels and surrounding communities in providing the safest and most advanced healthcare for those we are blessed to serve.”

CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Hospital – San Marcos has undergone comprehensive surgical smoke education and testing, and provides the medical devices and resources necessary to evacuate surgical smoke during all smoke-generating procedures.

“I am so proud of our team for their continued commitment to ensure both our patients and associates receive the absolute best care, in a safe environment,” said Genifer Rucker, president of CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Hospital – New Braunfels. “This award reiterates the compassionate care we provide on a daily basis.”

Inhalation and absorption of surgical smoke pose serious health risks to patients and surgical staff. Studies compare the inhalation of smoke from vaporized human tissue to the smoke created by cigarettes; the average daily impact of surgical smoke to the surgical team is equivalent to inhaling 27-30 unfiltered cigarettes. Today, it is estimated only 50% of health care workers across the U.S. understand the hazards of smoke exposure.