Pottstown Hospital Earns Award for ‘Going Clear’

POTTSTOWN PA – Pottstown Hospital, a unit of West Reading PA-based Tower Health, has received a “Gold Level Go Clear Award” from the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses for eliminating hazardous smoke generated during surgical procedures, according to the hospital. It is said to be one of only a few hospitals state-wide to earn the recognition.

Lasers and other devices used during surgery can produce smoke, which sometimes obstructs surgeons’ views and often contain toxic gases and particles. Inhalation and absorption of surgical smoke poses serious health risks. The association created its “Go Clear” program to help hospitals develop surgical smoke evacuation procedures.

To qualify, hospital staff members completed “comprehensive surgical smoke education and testing,” it reported, and hospital leaders invested in medical devices and resources necessary to remove smoke generated during surgeries.

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