Dr. Kris Chrouser is an Associate Professor in Urology and the S. Matthew Berge Research Professor at the University of Michigan and the VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System. Her research aims to maximize surgical outcomes by optimizing surgeon performance, intraoperative teamwork, and surgeon wellbeing. In addition to teaching operative urology, she also educates trainees in surgical ergonomics, non-technical skills, and improving workplace wellbeing by utilizing quality improvement techniques. She serves as site director for the VA surgery CRQS program and is the High Reliability Organizational (HRO) Clinician Champion at the Ann Arbor VA.

In this episode, Dr. Chrouser

- Familiarizes us with the Surgical Stress Effects model that she developed to study the impact of various factors (including intangibles) that can influence surgical and procedural outcomes

- Discusses how surgeon/proceduralist discomfort can affect non-technical (and sometimes technical) performance and many safety events can be traced to issues with communication and other non-technical skills

- Explains why we don't have quantitative data regarding how physician work-related musculoskeletal (MSK) injury can affect patient outcomes i.e. lack of reporting

- Reviews the prevalence of work-related MSK injuries among urologists and shares tips and trick to help mitigate the risks

- Highlights the importance of an "Occupational time-out" after the pre-incision time-out in order to help optimize the environmental factors

- Shares the (unpublished) data from her study implementing ergonomic best practices among OR teams

You can reach Dr. Chrouser via email at chrouser@med.umich.edu

You can access the OR stretch app at https://orstretch.mayoclinic.org/

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Shari Stevens is a licensed massage therapist in Iowa City, IA and is the owner and operator of A Healing Touch Massage. She received massage training at the Carlson College of massage therapy in 1999. She also has additional training in trigger point massage, myofascial massage, assisted stretching techniques such as Active Isolated Stretching and Stuart Taws' Soft Tissue Release. Before learning massage, Shari worked as a lawyer for 10 years.

In this episode Ms. Stevens

- Shares her journey of her career transition from attorney to massage therapists

- Helps us understand what is meant by myofascial pain

- Reminds us about the different types of massage therapy available including Swedish massage, Myofascial release, Shiatsu (accupressure point-based) etc.

- Shares tips on how to find an appropriate massage therapist and what typical treatment programs might look like

- Gives us some tips on how we can work on trigger points by ourselves at home

You can reach Shari at icmassage.net

The Trigger Point Therapy workbook: https://www.newharbinger.com/9781608824960/the-trigger-point-therapy-workbook/

Theracane: https://theracane.com/

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Dr. Ian S. Soriano is a general, gastrointestinal and bariatric surgeon and serves as Director of robotic surgery for the UCSF Department of Surgery. Dr. Soriano's research focuses on using laparoscopic and robotic techniques to reduce surgical complications and improve patient outcomes. He also studies ways to support the longevity of surgical careers through robotics and ergonomics.

In this episode, Dr. Soriano

- Provides tips for setting oneself up for ergonomic success in laparoscopic surgery with proper table height, anti-fatigue mats and placement of monitors

- Discusses the history and ergonomic challenges of laparoscopy and specifically laparoscopic retractors and staplers

- Explores the differences between manual and powered staplers with respect to patient outcomes, surgeon ergonomics and costs

- Provides tips for setting oneself up for ergonomic success in robot-assisted surgery, including choice of chair to sit on

- Describes the importance of breaks and stretches in both types of surgery

- Reminds us to pay attention to the ergonomic concerns of the assistant at the bedside in robot-assistant surgery

- Shares that using hand-activated cautery and other energy devices also helps us to reduce ergonomic strain

You can reach Dr. Soriano here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ian-s-soriano-md-67996a83/

Watch the webinar on Staplers at the Society of Surgical Ergonomics website: https://www.societyofsurgicalergonomics.org/

Explore the OR stretch app at: https://orstretch.mayoclinic.org/

Review the ACS Ergonomics taskforce recommendations at: https://www.facs.org/for-medical-professionals/education/programs/surgical-ergonomics/recommendations/

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