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WSSA and VM Nitrous Oxide Waste Webinar
Tuesday, May 02, 2023, 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM PDT
Category: Joint Events

WEBINAR: Collaborating to Prevent Massive Nitrous Oxide waste in Medical Gas Systems 

Jointly provided by Washington State Society of Anesthesiologists & Virginia Mason Franciscan Health

Hospitals in our region have discovered shocking rates of nitrous oxide leakage and fugitive emissions associated with many central, piped nitrous oxide systems. Come learn about these findings, their environmental, health and safety implications, and the practical solutions we can employ to radically reduce nitrous oxide waste in hospitals and surgery centers.
In this webinar, anesthesia providers, healthcare facility managers and others will discuss the surprising inefficiency of tank rooms and central supply lines, as well as the ease and benefits of switching to a decentralized approach, with no impact on patient care.

There is no cost to attend. Continuing medical education credits are available to attendees, provided by WSSA/ASA and Virginia Mason Franciscan Health.


Register Now via Zoom

 Learning Objectives:

  • How direct patient clinical use makes up as little as 1% of purchased nitrous oxide in some hospitals.
  • How unavoidable fugitive emissions occur in cryogenic tanks and in supply lines carrying nitrous oxide from a central manifold room to clinical spaces.
  • The value proposition of decommissioning central supply lines in favor of E-cylinders employed at the point of use – safety improvements, efficiency gains, environmental benefits, occupational exposure reduction, and financial savings.
  • Case study examples and inspiration from four different health systems in this region who have completed or begun this work through a partnership between clinicians and healthcare facility managers.
  • Specific steps for measuring your program to determine the level of opportunity and how-to's for implementing change at your facility.
  • How to ensure that decommissioning central supply lines will not be perceived as a risky undertaking and will not put facility managers or clinicians in the “hot seat”.
Agenda:
  1. Introductory remarks
  2. Providence’s research, assessment and solutions – Dr. Brian Chesebro, Anesthesiologist, and Andy Mason, Regional Facility Director
  3. Q&A with Dr. Chesebro and Mr. Mason
  4. Hospital case studies:
  • Vancouver General Hospital – Stewart Brown, Anesthesia Fellow
  • Virginia Mason Medical Center – Dr. Wyn Strodtbeck, Anesthesiologist
  • PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center – Brian Nelson, Sustainability Manager
  • Seattle Children’s Hospital – Dr. Liz Hansen, Anesthesiologist
5. Opportunity for post-webinar implementation assistance
6. Discussion and continued Q&A