Conference Agenda
The 2025 OR Manager Conference program features 7 educational tracks designed to help you achieve excellence in perioperative management, operations, and patient care through education, case studies, a supportive peer network, and innovative industry solutions and products. Gain the latest updates, strategies and tactics in ambulatory surgery, business & technology, leadership, workforce management, perianesthesia care, and need-to-know information for novice leaders.
Monday, October 27
As the name suggests, the OR Manager Conference Reverse Expo flips the traditional expo format – the vendors come to you for one-on-one meetings! We understand your time at the conference is valuable, and you need to make the most of your time on the Periop Networking & Innovation Hub floor finding the suppliers that fulfill your needs.
Perks of participation: Receive a complimentary hotel room night for Monday evening and a private reception for Reverse Expo participants and vendors! Confirm your interest during registration and you will be contacted shortly with details.*
*Participation in the Reverse Expo is required. If you are approved and agree to participate, but do not attend the Reverse Expo event, your room night coverage will be rescinded.
Learning Objectives:
- Prepare your operating room and central sterile processing department for survey.
- Advance the safety of care delivery with sustainable process improvements.
- Develop strategies to avoid the most commonly cited regulatory deficiencies.
Many of the most problematic Joint Commission standards are applicable to the Operating Room and invasive procedural areas of your hospital. Attend this workshop and learn how to identify each of these issues, highlight how surveyors attempt to assess your compliance with them, and share methods to install bullet-proof solutions to ensure a finding-free survey.
Take-home tool: Self-audit checklists. Examples of what surveyors look for when spotting deficiencies that are often right under your nose. Examples of processes that if adopted and sustained assure that you will have a successful regulatory survey and improved quality of care day in and day out.
Open to Reverse Expo participants and participating vendors.
Tuesday, October 28
Stay tuned for exciting updates!
Frank Solis, Clinical Operations Procurement and Planning Manager, Trias MD
Learning Objectives:
- Explore effective strategies to reduce supply and implant costs through optimized contracting.
- Review techniques to negotiate a contract that is beneficial to both the ambulatory surgery center (ASC) and vendor.
- Explain the importance of vendor partnerships in supporting key strategies for ASC growth.
In this session the speakers will discuss key strategies to enhance the center’s buying power and cost containment. The program will cover the following: GPOs, regional contracting with a vendor for a specific product, and how to use value analysis as a tool for success. You will take home key strategies to successfully negotiate your regional vendor contracts. Another key takeaway will include ways to build strong relationships with the vendor, making them a partner in the success of your center.
The General Interest Track features excellence in patient safety, care quality, infection prevention, and sterilization protocols alongside cutting-edge, vetted content from industry sponsors. Stay tuned for exciting program updates!
Learning Objectives:
- Identify seven Samurai leadership principles and application techniques.
- Summarize the techniques needed to create a family atmosphere within the work environment.
- Explain how to fully engage staff in organizational or department expectations.
Discover the timeless wisdom of Samurai leadership and its relevance in today’s healthcare environment. This session will explore seven key Samurai principles and practical techniques to inspire and connect with staff on a deeper level. Learn how to foster a sense of belonging, create a family-like work atmosphere, and engage team members in achieving organizational goals. By embodying these leadership strategies, you can cultivate a unified and motivated team ready to meet challenges with resilience and purpose.
Learning Objectives:
- Determine the skills and competencies necessary for the transition from clinical nurse to nurse leader.
- Describe effective relationship management and human resource skills to become a successful nurse leader.
- Explain how mentorship and coaching can support leaders in navigating their new roles more effectively.
Nurse clinicians often transition to leadership roles based on clinical performance or informal leadership within their areas, but this shift involves new responsibilities such as budget management, human resources, and regulatory compliance. As the number of novice nurse leaders grow, healthcare organizations must identify what factors contribute to the success of novice leaders during their transition to practice. Attend this session to understand how healthcare organizations can refine their leadership training programs to better meet the needs of new leaders.
Kate Domrzalski, BSN, RN, PACU Nurse Manager, Abington Hospital, Jefferson Health
Learning Objectives:
- Understand the operational intricacies of preop and postop areas, including best practices for managing patient flow and ensuring smooth department coordination.
- Calculate the required number of beds, facilitate Phase I to Phase II recovery transitions, and reduce bottlenecks within perianesthesia services.
- Examine key throughput metrics to identify common misconceptions and develop data-driven solutions that address how perianesthesia areas both influence and are influenced by inpatient units.
Transitioning into a leadership role in the perianesthesia setting can feel overwhelming. This session is designed to provide perianesthesia leaders with foundational knowledge to effectively manage their departments. Attendees will learn how to navigate the operations of pre-op and post-op areas, calculate the appropriate number of beds to optimize patient flow, and coordinate transitions from Phase I to Phase II recovery. By examining key metrics and addressing common misconceptions, this session redefines how perianesthesia throughput is impacted by the areas it supports as well as the inpatient areas it sends patients to. Equip yourself with the tools and insights needed to succeed as a perianesthesia leader.
Edna Gilliam, DNP, MSN, MBA, RN, CNOR, NEA-BC, Assistant Vice President of Perioperative Services and SPD, Nemours Children's Hospital, Delaware
J.D. Buchert, MSN, M.Ed., MS, RN, Quality and Safety Specialist - Perioperative Division, Parkland Health & Hospital System
Learning Objectives:
- Describe expectations of today’s workforce and their perceptions of moving into an OR leadership role.
- Reimagine the parameters of OR leadership to appeal to the next generation.
- Improve work-life balance to foster a more desirable career path in OR leadership.
As OR Leaders, we all too often hear the phrase “They don’t want to be us.” As today’s workforce is changing, new generations have different demands and prioritizing work-life balance is at the top. This session promises to reimagine OR Leadership through a different lens. Join us for a discussion on ways to make OR Leadership an attractive career option. Bring your creative ideas and share your vision.
Jennifer Boyer, MSN, RN, CEN, Associate Nurse Manager, Nemours Children's Hospital
Jacqueline Jenkins, MSN, RN, CNOR, Director of Perioperative Services and Sterile Processing, Nemours Children's Hospital
Learning Objectives:
- Outline the strategic benefits of cross-training surgical services team members for improved patient care and operational efficiency.
- Identify key competencies, trainings, and resources necessary for a methodology to successfully transition OR circulators to PACU roles.
- Develop practical implementation plans for fostering a flexible workforce that can readily adapt to fluctuating case volumes and workflow demands.
In today’s dynamic healthcare environment, efficient staffing solutions that enhance patient care and optimize operational flow are critical to the success of perioperative services. This presentation examines the strategic implementation of cross-training within surgical services team members. Historically, ASCs have successfully crossed-trained preoperative nurses to PACU. This program will describe ways to cross train the OR circulator to work in PACU. This presentation will demonstrate how to approach cross-training to create a flexible workforce that can respond to fluctuating case volumes and workflow.
Learning Objectives:
- Describe the process of training and deploying an artificial intelligence (AI) model for block scheduling optimization.
- Learn the data inputs required for accurate AI predictions, including case data and surgeon-specific metrics.
- Discover how real-time data and AI analysis increase OR throughput, improve resource utilization, and boost case volumes.
Block scheduling in operating rooms is vital for resource allocation, but traditional methods often fail to optimize time and reflect accurate case durations. This session will dive into how AI was deployed to enhance block scheduling at Houston Methodist, with a focus on training the AI model, capturing real-time data, and optimizing scheduling to boost productivity and accommodate emergency cases.
Key topics include:
- Model Training: Insights on input data such as case durations, surgeon timing, and turnover times used to train the AI model.
- Real-Time Data Capture: How the system collects data seamlessly to enable immediate scheduling adjustments.
- Model Application: How the AI optimizes case scheduling, maximizes OR throughput, and allows dynamic adjustments for emergencies.
- Results: How AI led to more available operating room hours, increasing case volume and access to elective surgical care.
This session will provide a deep technical understanding of the process, from data collection to measurable results, offering practical insights into AI's role in OR efficiency.
The General Interest Track features excellence in patient safety, care quality, infection prevention, and sterilization protocols alongside cutting-edge, vetted content from industry sponsors. Stay tuned for exciting program updates!
Ronald Perez, JD, MSN, RN, NEA-BC, CNOR, Executive Director Perioperative Services, UCLA Health
Learning Objectives:
- Identify strategies to address common industry challenges such as staffing shortages, process variance, and instrumentation backlogs.
- Describe the role of vulnerability-based trust and collaboration in building a high-performance culture.
- Apply best practices for strengthening partnerships between the OR and SPD to improve satisfaction and operational efficiency.
Discover how a leading academic medical center tackled staffing shortages, process inconsistencies, and instrumentation backlogs by fostering trust and collaboration between the operating room (OR) and sterile processing department (SPD). Learn how vulnerability-based dialogue, best-practice standardization, and a focus on accountability created a high-performance culture, resulting in improved operational performance, staff satisfaction, and sustainable outcomes.
Aliaunda Macon, BSN, RN, Staff Nurse, Main Line Health Lankenau Medical Center
Simone Nicholson, DNP, MSN, RN, CNOR, Nurse Manager Main Operating Room, Main Line Health Lankenau Hospital
Learning Objectives:
- Identify common triggers of imposter syndrome in perioperative leadership and develop strategies to overcome self-doubt.
- Explore effective approaches for managing the constant demands of surgical operations with resilience and composure.
- Apply proven performance management techniques to implement clear expectations, accountability, and growth within perioperative teams.
Leadership in perioperative services often demands navigating high-stakes challenges with confidence and composure. Yet, many leaders grapple with the weight of imposter syndrome, the relentless demands of a 24/7 operation, and the difficulty of addressing performance management effectively. This session delves into practical strategies to address the internal and interpersonal battles that come with leadership.
Learning Objectives:
- Define key standards of perianesthesia care, including documentation requirements and their importance to patient safety.
- Develop strategies to maintain adherence to clinical protocols during high-demand scenarios without compromising quality of care.
- Identify common barriers to maintaining standards and learn practical solutions to reinforce compliance and accountability in real-time settings.
Maintaining high standards of perianesthesia care is essential for delivering safe and effective patient outcomes, especially in today’s fast-paced surgical and procedural environments. This session will focus on the perianesthesia clinical care, emphasizing the importance of adherence to standard of care protocols, independent of anticipated volumes or throughput demands. Participants will explore the meaning and implications of these standards and learn practical strategies to ensure consistent application, even under time constraints. Join us to reinforce your commitment to excellence and discover how to navigate the challenges of maintaining high standards amidst the daily demands of clinical practice.
Daphny Peneza MSN, RN, CNOR, CSSM, FAORN, Perioperative Services Manager, Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Learning Objectives:
- Describe the experience of an internationally educated nurse RN transitioning into perioperative services in the US.
- Explain how cultural diversity training programs can contribute to a more inclusive environment.
- Develop an orientation program designed for international leaders to embrace diverse views and cultural nuances.
In today’s interconnected world, organizations face the challenge of navigating cultural diversity while nurturing leadership talent. Nurse Diversity Fellowship emerges as a powerful strategy to address this complexity. It weaves paths that transcend geographical boundaries and fosters mentoring relationships that navigate cultural borders. This session will highlight how nurse mentoring is vital in sustaining professional holistic engagement and is critical to ensure a resilient nursing workforce.
Tracy Hoeft-Hoffman, MSN, MBA, RN, CASC, Administrator, Heartland Surgery Center
Learning Objectives:
- Identify common challenges and inefficiencies in manual postoperative follow-up processes within ASCs.
- Explore how HIPAA-compliant automated systems can improve care quality, patient adherence, and overall patient experience.
- Develop strategies to effectively implement automated processes, optimize staff utilization, and minimize same-day cancellations in ASCs.
Discuss the time-consuming manual processes currently used in your ASC and replace these processes with automation that will provide a way to use your team effectively while ensuring a high standard of care, improve patient adherence to pre and post operative education, reduce same day cancellations and improve the patient’s experience.
Learning Objectives:
- Explain the importance of reducing turnover time to achieve operational efficiency, improve patient experience, and enhance staff satisfaction.
- Describe a systematic, phased approach for identifying and addressing process barriers to optimize OR workflows.
- Explore key strategies that contribute to successful turnover time improvements.
Discover how a multidisciplinary team approach significantly reduced operating room turnover times in a main OR and outpatient surgery center. This session will detail strategies to achieve operational efficiencies through standardized training, proactive supply management, and interdisciplinary teamwork and collaboration among departments.
The General Interest Track features excellence in patient safety, care quality, infection prevention, and sterilization protocols alongside cutting-edge, vetted content from industry sponsors. Stay tuned for exciting program updates!
Learning Objectives:
- Identify the primary impacts of the anesthesia provider shortage and impact on OR efficiency.
- Develop strategies for building strong pathways between OR and anesthesia teams to improve teamwork and workflow coordination.
- Explore resource management tools to optimize anesthesia staffing and ensure continuity of surgical care during periods of high demand.
The nationwide shortage of anesthesia providers presents a significant challenge to maintaining OR efficiency and patient safety. This session will explore practical strategies for OR leaders to foster collaboration with anesthesia teams, streamline workflows, and optimize staffing resources. Attendees will gain insights into building resilient multi-disciplinary teams, leveraging innovative solutions to address staffing shortages, and ensuring seamless surgical care delivery. By working together, nurse leaders and anesthesia teams can navigate these challenges while upholding quality care standards and minimizing disruptions.
Learning Objectives:
- Identify critical issues and challenges commonly faced by new OR leaders, and assess effective strategies to address them.
- Engage in collaborative discussions with peers to gather diverse perspectives and practical solutions to leadership obstacles.
- Build professional connections and acquire creative ideas that can be immediately implemented in perioperative leadership roles.
This session is designed for new OR leaders to benchmark themselves with their peers. Set-up in a roundtable format, topics will be introduced for discussion. This interactive session will address critical issues facing new leaders and provides a safe space for like-minded peers to share their greatest challenges and learn from one another. Make new connections and walk away armed with creative ideas. Plus, attendees will automatically be entered into a prize drawing for a Disney Gift Card valued at $100 and the winner will be announced at the end of the session!
Katherine Houle, MSN, RN, CPAN, Manager, PeriAnesthesia, CRNA, Sedated Imaging, Gillette Children's Specialty Healthcare
Learning Objectives:
- Describe the legal and ethical considerations involved in obtaining informed consent in the perianesthesia setting.
- Outline the key responsibilities of PACU nurses and leaders during patient discharge to ensure legal compliance and continuity of care.
- Identify best practices for working through challenging situations with patients and their families while maintaining safety, dignity, and legal protections for all involved.
Understanding legal responsibilities in the perioperative and perianesthesia setting is crucial to ensuring both patient safety and institutional compliance. This session explores the legal dimensions of informed consent, the role of perianesthesia nurses and leaders during the discharge process, and best practices for managing challenging patient and family dynamics while upholding ethical standards. Join us to gain clarity on these complex issues and learn how to confidently navigate challenging scenarios with legal insights tailored for the perianesthesia setting.
Robert Ghafar, MBA, RTT, Vice President, Procedures and Therapeutic Operations, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Tiffany Hughes, MBA, Associate Director, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Learning Objectives:
- Explain the differences among career ladders, lattices, and mobility.
- Implement a structured program to assess job roles and identify potential career paths.
- Establish a process to show managerial readiness and support for employees during annual evaluations.
This session will provide a case study on enhancing career mobility for staff by establishing a committee tasked with developing a transparent career mobility model. This model systematically evaluates job roles, maps out potential career paths, and specifies prerequisites for each, ensuring employees have a clear understanding of their growth and lateral movement opportunities.
The OR Manager Conference Periop Networking & Innovation Hub is an epicenter of connection, collaboration, and discovery of new products and solutions for your perioperative suite, comprised of educational sessions, hands-on learning with exhibitors, networking events, parties, and a little healthy competition. The enhancements we have made will transcend your experience with exhibitors, your knowledge of clinical excellence and perioperative management, and your network of peer resources.
Step into the future of perioperative excellence at the Periop Networking & Innovation Hub – your ultimate haven for immersive, experiential education at the OR Manager Conference!
This is where cutting-edge exhibitor product demonstrations, the latest research, and the brightest minds across perioperative services converge to elevate your clinical knowledge.
Wednesday, October 29
Learning Objectives:
- Discuss how to develop a successful complex spine and total joint program in an ambulatory surgery center (ASC).
- Review the importance of identifying the admission criteria that will keep patients safe in the ASC environment.
- Provide education and training to nurses, patients, and caregivers to support positive surgical outcomes.
This presentation will be delivered in two parts. In the first part, attendees will learn how to safely transition complex spine and total joint procedures from the hospital to an ASC setting. CMS and third-party payers are driving these cases out of acute care environments and into ASCs due to cost-efficiency, as ASCs typically receive lower reimbursement rates than hospitals and hospital outpatient departments (HOPDs).
With an aging, yet increasingly active population, the demand for spine surgeries and total joint replacements continues to rise. ASCs offer a safe, effective environment for these procedures. Nursing care plays a pivotal role in the success of these programs. This session will explore the development of service lines, the establishment of patient admission criteria to ensure safety, the necessary equipment, and strategies for performing these complex procedures.
Learning Objectives:
- Explore financial insights needed to advocate for resources, streamline operations, and drive long-term financial success in the OR.
- Analyze the process of capital procurement and return on investment (ROI) evaluation to justify financial investments in the OR.
- Interpret OR charges, CPT codes, and financial metrics to enhance cost transparency and operational
The operating room is the financial engine of your organization—but is it running at peak efficiency? The average hospital leaves over $30 million annually on the table due to poor quality, inefficiencies, supply chain gaps, and overlooked financial opportunities. Effective financial stewardship is essential to sustaining high-quality patient care while maintaining fiscal responsibility. This session will explore high-impact opportunities to enhance financial performance in the OR. From capital procurement and ROI evaluation to cost transparency and expense management, attendees will gain actionable strategies to optimize financial decision-making.
Simone Nicholson, DNP, MSN, RN, CNOR, Nurse Manager Main Operating Room, Main Line Health Lankenau Hospital
Nana Owusu-Afriyie, MSN, MBA, RN, CNOR, Service Team Coordinator - Trauma / Evening Shift Charge, Main Line Health Lankenau Medical Center
Learning Objectives:
- Examine how effective leadership holds individuals accountable for fostering a positive culture in the OR and its impact on nurse retention.
- Explore the experiences of leaders focusing on behaviors they have learned and those they have unlearned to improve team morale and performance.
- Discuss the importance of self-awareness in leaders, highlighting how personal reflection and development contribute to stronger leadership in the OR.
ORs are high-stress, highly specialized environments that require seamless coordination and strong teamwork. These settings are culturally sensitive, given their fast-paced nature and the high level of collaboration involved. However, frequent turnover remains a common challenge in this area. How do leaders influence the culture of an operating room to meet the needs of today's nursing professionals?
A positive unit culture is crucial in shaping the workday and overall experience for nursing staff, patients, and their families. It serves as a key factor in determining patient outcomes and is often a primary reason why nurses choose to stay or leave a unit. This panel discussion will explore the role of nursing leadership in shaping the culture of the operating room and how it directly impacts nurse retention and attrition rates.
Patrel Nobles, MSN, RN, CNOR, NE-BC, Administrative Director, Surgical Services, HCA Reston Hospital
Learning Objectives:
- Understand the concept and importance of service recovery in perioperative settings, and its impact on patient, family, and staff satisfaction.
- Develop a structured approach to identifying and resolving service failures, using evidence-based strategies and real-world scenarios.
- Acquire practical tools and techniques that empower leaders to effectively address issues, restore trust, and foster continuous improvement in perioperative services.
Service recovery in perioperative services refers to the process of identifying, addressing, and rectifying issues when a service failure or lapse occurs, ensuring that patient, family, and staff satisfaction is restored. Despite its importance, service recovery is not typically covered in “periop 101” classes, seminars, or new leader orientation and many leaders are left to learn these skills on their own. This session will provide leaders with essential take home tools to use in real-world service recovery scenarios.
Learning Objectives:
- Identify effective advocacy strategies to ensure perianesthesia nursing’s contributions to patient care are recognized.
- Examine ways to foster collaboration and maximize resource allocation between preop, OR, and PACU.
- Develop actionable plans to cultivate an environment that highlights the value of PACU nurses in multidisciplinary teams.
Perianesthesia nurse leaders often face the challenge of balancing patient care, operational demands, and leadership responsibilities while ensuring their contributions are recognized and valued. This session will explore strategies to advocate for our specialty, highlighting the critical role of nurse leaders, and focus on ways to prioritize efforts that align with organizational and patient needs.
Sharon Udy-Janczuk, EdD, MSN, RN, CNOR, NE-BC, Perioperative Services, Clinical Nurse Educator, Transition to Practice, Nemours Children's Hospital, Delaware
Learning Objectives:
- Describe how intentional allyship with underrepresented individuals—supported by at times uncomfortable conversations—fosters a team culture of honesty, fairness, and growth.
- Discuss the relationship between workforce diversity and patient outcomes, and how more representation in perioperative services leads to better care and reduced health disparities.
- Identify pipeline initiatives, including recruitment, training, and evaluation methods, that expand underrepresented students’ access to perioperative careers.
Allyship is essential for building an inclusive workplace and fostering a culture of fairness through intentional, trust-based relationships with underrepresented individuals. Such efforts often require navigating the discomfort of honest, sometimes challenging conversations about equity, fairness, and respect. Evidence shows that matching underrepresented healthcare providers to similarly diverse patient populations leads to better outcomes and reduces health disparities. To address underrepresentation, this session highlights the Workforce Pipeline Development Program (WPDP), a quality improvement initiative that recruits and trains underrepresented students through local partnerships, providing clinical experiences and career pathways. The session will illustrate how allyship and strategic pipeline development can work together to create a more equitable perioperative team that mirrors and effectively serves its community.
James Chen, MD, Orthopedic Surgeon, DISC Sports & Spine Center
Chip Snyders, MD (Invited), Anesthesiologist, DISC Sports & Spine Center (Invited)
Learning Objectives:
- Describe the role of the anesthesiologist in complex spine and total joint cases.
- Outline how spine and total joint surgery can be safely performed in the ASC environment.
- Explain the importance of collaboration among leadership, nursing, anesthesia, and surgeons.
Part two of the Complex Spine and Total Joint Service Line session will emphasize the critical importance of collaboration between leadership, nursing, anesthesia, and surgeons. An anesthesiologist will outline the safety measures taken to ensure that patients undergoing these high-acuity procedures are suitable for the ambulatory environment. They will also discuss the necessary health assessments required to meet the center’s admission criteria.
The spine surgeon will explain how they collaborate with anesthesia and the ASC team to schedule, position, and perform cases. They will also review common complications and provide guidance on managing them effectively. Similarly, the total joint surgeon will describe their approach to working with the team to create a safe environment for each patient.
Both surgeons will share insights into the use of robotic-assisted techniques for complex cases, highlighting how these advanced tools go beyond convenience and can significantly improve patient outcomes.
Learning Objectives:
- Recognize the common challenges of managing vendor interactions and loaner tray workflows, particularly when no dedicated OR business manager is in place.
- Develop best practices for controlling vendor access, standardizing vendor tray identification, and enhancing communication between the OR and SPD.
- Apply practical process improvement strategies to ensure compliance, optimize workflow efficiency, and maintain strong vendor relationships.
Managing vendor interactions and loaner tray workflows is a complex challenge, especially without a dedicated OR Business Manager. Limited storage space, high volumes of vendor trays and implants, and inconsistent vendor oversight can disrupt surgical operations. This session will share real-world experiences and process improvement strategies to enhance vendor tray management in busy surgical suites. Attendees will explore best practices for controlling vendor access, standardizing identification, and improving communication between the OR and SPD. Gain practical insights to streamline workflows, ensure compliance, and reduce inefficiencies while maintaining strong vendor relationships.
The General Interest Track features excellence in patient safety, care quality, infection prevention, and sterilization protocols alongside cutting-edge, vetted content from industry sponsors. Stay tuned for exciting program updates!
Learning Objectives:
- Establish a hiring infrastructure that supports leadership goals and team dynamics.
- Give examples of hiring for leadership qualities versus hiring for technical skills that can be developed later.
- Explore the concept of peer interviewing to ensure a culture of collaboration.
This session will focus on the critical role of middle management in the success of OR leadership, particularly when hiring the right people for these pivotal positions. Learn how building a supportive infrastructure and fostering strong middle management teams can make your leadership more effective. Explore the balance between hiring for skills and hiring for the right person, emphasizing the importance of soft skills and leadership potential. Attendees will also discover innovative approaches like peer interviewing, which empowers teams to evaluate beyond just technical abilities, ensuring the hiring of individuals who contribute to long-term success.
Cara Cook, President/CEO, Smart Healthcare Operations
Learning Objectives:
- Develop an understanding of the “why” behind foundational finance and productivity management concepts.
- Learn the calculations and components of an effective staffing grid including full-time equivalent (FTE) calculations.
- Implement daily monitoring of productivity.
- Use zero-base methodology to calculate your productivity target.
While effective financial management is a cornerstone of operational success in perioperative services, navigating the intricacies of productivity, budgeting, FTE calculations, premium pay, staffing grids and action plans can be daunting to say the least. In this dynamic session, we’ll explore practical tools and strategies to help OR leaders achieve sustainable financial and operational excellence that supports long term viability in partnership with executive leaders.
Glenn Padrid, MBA, MSN, BSN, RN, CPAN, Board Member, ABPANC
Learning Objectives:
- Explain the impact of specialty nursing certifications on improving patient outcomes.
- Discuss the correlation between nursing certifications and increased job satisfaction.
- Show how nursing certifications foster a culture of excellence.
In today’s complex healthcare environment, specialty nursing certifications like the Certified Post Anesthesia Nurse (CPAN) and Certified Ambulatory Perianesthesia Nurse (CAPA) validate advanced skills, support professional growth, and enhance patient outcomes. Research links certification to better patient outcomes, including a reduction in pressure injuries, falls, hospital-acquired infections, and mortality. This presentation highlights the value of specialty certifications to improve patient care and increase job satisfaction.
Amber Wirkus, MSN, RN, NE-BC, Vice Chair of Nursing, Surgical Services, Mayo Clinic
Learning Objectives:
- Identify key factors contributing to staffing shortages in sterile processing departments, particularly within the broader healthcare workforce crisis.
- Evaluate approaches to improve workforce resilience and retention, focusing on effective recruitment, training, and team engagement practices.
- Explore strategies and solutions to successfully address increasing staffing demands amidst rising surgical case volumes.
The healthcare industry as a whole is grappling with substantial staffing issues, often exemplified by the nursing shortages that impact hospital stays. Hear from one team on how their sterile processing departments encountered significant staffing challenges and what they did to improve staffing demand as surgical case volumes increased.
The OR Manager Conference Periop Networking & Innovation Hub is an epicenter of connection, collaboration, and discovery of new products and solutions for your perioperative suite, comprised of educational sessions, hands-on learning with exhibitors, networking events, parties, and a little healthy competition. The enhancements we have made will transcend your experience with exhibitors, your knowledge of clinical excellence and perioperative management, and your network of peer resources.
Step into the future of perioperative excellence at the Periop Networking & Innovation Hub – your ultimate haven for immersive, experiential education at the OR Manager Conference!
This is where cutting-edge exhibitor product demonstrations, the latest research, and the brightest minds across perioperative services converge to elevate your clinical knowledge.
Join us for a special guest appearance with Dr. Betsy Grunch, board-certified neurosurgeon at Longstreet Clinic in Gainesville, Georgia. Dr. Grunch is renowned for her expertise in minimally invasive spine techniques and advancing the field of neurotrauma. Recognized as a Top Doctor by Georgia Trend and Atlanta Magazine for several consecutive years, she was also honored as one of Atlanta Magazine's Women Making a Mark in 2023.
Beyond her clinical work, Dr. Grunch is an influential presence online as @Ladyspinedoc. Through her thriving social media platform, she demystifies the complexities of neurosurgery while offering a candid look at her life as a mother, wife, and friend. Her content empowers the public with essential medical knowledge, inspires current and future healthcare professionals, and adds a touch of humor and positivity to her audience's day.
Attend the OR Manager Awards Ceremony and support your colleagues! The best-of-the-best in perioperative leadership will be honored as the OR Manager of the Year, Ambulatory Nurse Leader of the Year and PACU Leader of the Year.
Learning Objectives:
- Identify key contributors to burnout and learn actionable strategies to restore balance and fulfillment in both personal and professional life.
- Explore the role of self-awareness and resilience in overcoming obstacles, breaking free of blockages, and reigniting workplace passion.
- Develop a personalized plan to cultivate harmony, rekindle authentic joy, and align daily work with a deeper sense of purpose.
The demands in healthcare can leave many feeling overworked, overwhelmed, and disconnected from their true purpose. This session will explore how health and wellness coaching can help you recover from burnout, rediscover passion in your work, and cultivate resilience. Learn practical strategies to break free from limiting beliefs, achieve balance, and create the future you desire. Through self-awareness and intentional action, you can live and work from a place of peace, power, and joy.
Thursday, October 30
Learning Objectives:
- Distinguish between internal and external benchmarking approaches, understanding their respective roles in driving quality improvement in ASCs.
- Interpret and analyze benchmarking data to identify performance gaps, prioritize improvement areas, and develop actionable plans.
- Implement effective process improvement strategies to support safety, quality of care, and overall satisfaction for patients, surgeons, and staff.
Benchmarking is a critical requirement for all ASCs, as mandated by CMS and accrediting organizations. This session will explore the two key types of benchmarking—internal and external—and highlight their similarities and differences in relation to quality improvement. Understanding the purpose of benchmarking is essential for leaders seeking to improve patient care, address gaps in processes, and enhance satisfaction among patients, surgeons, and staff.
The session will also focus on the final and most impactful step in the benchmarking process - analyzing the data and turning it into actionable improvements. Attendees will learn how to develop and implement process improvement projects that elevate their center’s safety, quality, and overall performance.
Learning Objectives:
- Recite the core principles of High-Reliability Organizations (HROs) and their relevance to the OR.
- Explore strategies for applying HRO principles to OR design, including layout, technology, and human factors.
- Assess and apply best practices to enhance OR reliability, safety, and long-term adaptability.
The healthcare environment demands the highest levels of reliability and
safety, particularly in the OR where complexity and risk are at their
peak. The principles of High-Reliability Organizations (HROs) offers a framework for
achieving exceptional performance and minimizing errors in such critical settings. This
session will explore the application of HRO principles in the design and construction of
new operating rooms, aiming to enhance patient safety, optimize workflow efficiency,
and support clinical excellence.
The General Interest Track features excellence in patient safety, care quality, infection prevention, and sterilization protocols alongside cutting-edge, vetted content from industry sponsors. Stay tuned for exciting program updates!
Valentina Briceno Marmol, BSN, RN, CNOR, Children's Surgery Program Manager, Texas Children's Hospital
Learning Objectives:
- Empower team members to take the lead in process improvement initiatives.
- Identify areas for improvement that will lead to policy changes and promote patient safety.
- Create a safe space for open and honest communication among staff that focuses on improvement instead of blame.
Morbidity and Mortality (M&M) meetings, traditionally utilized by physicians, are forums for discussing adverse events with the aim of improving patient care and clinical practice. These meetings are characterized by their non-punitive nature, focusing on learning and system improvement rather than blame. The adaptation of M&M meetings across healthcare disciplines, including nursing, have shown to provide staff with opportunities for healing, sharing experiences, and promoting clinical excellence. This session will outline the innovative implementation of M&M meetings within the perioperative services setting, aiming to foster a culture of safety and accountability among all non-physician disciplines. The initiative is based on principles of high-reliability organizations, emphasizing sensitivity to operations and deference to expertise.
Learning Objectives:
- Identify the scope and impact of incivility in perioperative settings, including its contribution to burnout and staff turnover.
- Explore how integrating incivility training into organizational-wide residencies and fellowships can foster a more supportive and inclusive workplace culture.
- Demonstrate cognitive rehearsal techniques as a practical strategy for OR leaders to proactively address and mitigate incivility.
Teamwork incivility is one the most frequently cited reasons for workplace dissatisfaction. According to the 2023 AORN Salary and Compensation Survey, approximately 31% stated they were somewhat likely or very likely to quit. Approximately 10% of those likely to quit were planning to retire. Organizations are responding to this trend through residencies and fellowships. When transitioning to an organization-wide fellowship and residency, the need to include incivility training is crucial to address. This session will explore cognitive rehearsal as a method of delivery for OR leaders to improve the workplace culture within the operating room.
Kristen Vargo, DNP, RN, NE-BC, Director of Nursing, Neurological Institute & Orthopaedics, Cleveland Clinic
Megan Nichols BSN, RN, CMSRN, ONC, Nurse Manager Orthopaedics, Cleveland Clinic
Laura Lyons, BSN, RN, Nurse Manager Nights & Weekends - Control Desk, Cleveland Clinic
Learning Objectives:
- Examine the root causes of OR and PACU holds in response to increasing surgical volumes, and how bottlenecks impact patients, families, and staff.
- Compare past challenges and current successful strategies designed to optimize throughput and prevent or reduce holds.
- Develop practical plans and interventions to maintain efficient patient flow, ensuring improved outcomes and stakeholder satisfaction.
Perioperative services face significant challenges in maintaining efficient throughput amidst rising surgical volumes, especially with increasing outpatient procedures. These complexities often result in OR and PACU holds, disrupting workflow and impacting patients, families, and perioperative teams. This panel will explore the evolving landscape of perioperative care, reflecting on past challenges and current strategies that have proven effective in preventing OR holds and reducing PACU holds. The discussion will highlight practical strategies to optimize perioperative throughput, ensuring better outcomes for all stakeholders.
Kristy Perry, MSN, RN, CNOR, Clinical Coordinator NT Operating Room, UF Health Shands
J.D. Buchert, MSN, M.Ed., MS, RN, Quality and Safety Specialist - Perioperative Division, Parkland Health & Hospital System
Learning Objectives:
- Educate teams on pending legislative activities that will impact healthcare organizations.
- Describe ways perioperative leaders can engage in advocacy efforts for their teams.
- Provide examples of successful implementation of state legislation and how it can benefit organizations.
Educating your perioperative team to advocate for safety is crucial for enhancing patient care, ensuring compliance with regulations, and fostering a culture of accountability. By empowering team members to identify and address safety concerns, promote continuous improvement, and support policy development, you strengthen patient outcomes, maintain high standards of care, and create a transparent, proactive work environment. Advocacy also encourages open communication and collaboration, ensuring the team’s collective efforts lead to ongoing safety enhancements and improved clinical results.
Learning Objectives:
- Summarize current legislative trends and mandates designed to protect nurses and other healthcare workers from violence, and understand how they shape organizational policies and procedures.
- Outline a clear process for conducting risk assessments, establishing prevention policies, and implementing workplace violence mitigation tools.
- Identify best practices for adhering to state regulations, measuring the effectiveness of violence prevention initiatives, and refining strategies to foster a safer environment for both staff and patients.
States across the are passing laws to protect nurses from violence in the healthcare setting. This program will share the journey on how to develop your plan, policies and procedures to mitigate the threat of workplace violence.
Chris Hunt, MBA, MSHA, BSN, RN, CSSM, NEA-BC, Associate Vice President, Perioperative Services, MultiCare Health System
Learning Objectives:
- Identify key performance indicators (KPIs) and data sources essential for building an effective OR performance dashboard.
- Employ strategies to transform disparate reports and emails into actionable data, backed by evidence-based decision-making.
- Implement methods to engage staff and leverage dashboard insights for continuous process and performance improvements.
Building your dashboard is an essential business function to measure the OR’s performance. Infinite amounts of data are buried deep in reports and emails. Making your dashboard work for you, whether by service line, department, or provider, allows decisions to be based on concrete data rather than impressions. This session will demonstrate principles to utilize data, engage staff and improve performance.
The General Interest Track features excellence in patient safety, care quality, infection prevention, and sterilization protocols alongside cutting-edge, vetted content from industry sponsors. Stay tuned for exciting program updates!
Learning Objectives:
- Create a compelling business case for capital equipment and technology investments.
- Leverage data to demonstrate the need for increased capacity and process improvement initiatives.
- Explore real-world examples of successful and unsuccessful business cases and common pitfalls to avoid.
In this session, OR leaders will learn how to craft effective business cases that drive strategic investments in capital equipment, technology, and capacity improvements. Using both successful and unsuccessful examples, the speaker will guide attendees through the steps to advocate for high-impact purchases, such as new technology, robotics and more FTEs. This session will equip leaders with practical tools to convince hospital leadership of the need for these investments to improve both patient care and operational efficiency.
Mark Walterbach MSN, RN, Senior Director Strategic Partnerships, Ascendco Health
Learning Objectives
- Identify key performance indicators (KPIs) in the sterile processing department (SPD) to ensure operational excellence.
- Utilize automation tools to simplify KPI tracking, enhance transparency, and improve collaboration with infection prevention teams.
- Develop strategies to improve SPD operations that align with patient safety and quality goals.
Sterile processing departments (SPD) are a cornerstone of patient safety and surgical success, yet their complexity often leaves OR leaders feeling unprepared to manage or evaluate them effectively. This session provides a roadmap for perioperative leaders to identify, measure, and act on critical KPIs. Attendees will explore practical examples of metrics such as Immediate Use Steam Sterilization (IUSS) rates, missing instruments, and reprocessing turnaround times. It will also demonstrate how automation tools can streamline KPI tracking, improve transparency, and foster collaboration with infection prevention teams.
Fayoke Fatade, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, Nurse Manager for Periop, Stamford Hospital / Hospital for Special Surgery
Katherine Houle, MSN, RN, CPAN, Manager, PeriAnesthesia, CRNA, Sedated Imaging, Gillette Children's Specialty Healthcare
Tonya Seckner, MSN, RN, CPAN, Assistant Director of Perioperative Services, Upstate Medical University
Learning Objectives:
- Identify real-world insights, effective strategies for patient management and problem-solving of challenging PACU cases.
- Disseminate lessons from interactive discussions and sharing of diverse experiences and best practices among PACU leaders.
- Develop a toolkit of ideas and evidence-based approaches to support patient care and operational efficiency in the perianesthesia setting.
Back by popular demand, join us for the closing panel where PACU leaders will discuss their most challenging cases and share insights on navigating daily obstacles in the perianesthesia care unit. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own stories and lessons learned, making this peer-to-peer session a dynamic and interactive exchange. Expect a wealth of ideas and strategies to inspire improvements you can implement when you return to your practice.
Learning Objectives:
- Describe technology tools and resources that can address shortages in perioperative staffing.
- Explore the potential of AI to support perioperative workflows by identifying inefficiencies.
- Discuss real-world applications of AI implementation in perioperative services to drive productivity and operational excellence.
As perioperative services face persistent staffing shortages and rising demands, artificial intelligence (AI) is emerging as a powerful tool to revolutionize workforce management and operational efficiency. This session explores innovative ways AI can mitigate staffing challenges, streamline workflows, and enhance productivity in perioperative settings.