LUMC Received Association of PeriOperative Nurses Go Clear Award - Gold Recognition Level

MAYWOOD, IL – Loyola University Medical Center (LUMC) has received the Association of PeriOperative Nurses (AORN) Go Clear Award – Gold Recognition Level. LUMC is the first in the Chicago area and fourth in the state of Illinois to achieve this recognition.

The AORN Go Clear Award program is a comprehensive surgical smoke-free recognition program to ensure a smoke-free environment wherever surgical smoke is generated (from laser devices and electrical surgical units used in operating rooms) to protect patient and worker safety. Components of the program include testing, interprofessional education, gap analysis and compliance monitoring.

"This achievement is especially significant to LUMC as it was a nurse-driven initiative supported by our surgeons and anesthesia teams," said Timothy M. Carrigan, PhD, RN, chief nursing officer for LUMC. "We are very proud of each team's attention to creating a safe work environment in our operating rooms."

Gold recognition is awarded to institutions meeting 90% compliance with surgical smoke evacuation, and we are proud to report that Loyola is at 95% compliance. This initiative was born from the OR Best Practice and OR Safety Committees in late 2019 and fully implemented mid-2020.