Podcast
First Case Podcast
Hosted by First Case Podcast · EN
Clock in, scrub up, and join us behind the red line. We are First Case – an operating room podcast bringing you exciting interviews, engaging discussions, and innovative solutions that are changing the way patients receive surgical care. Each episode we talk to frontline staff, perioperative leadership, and nursing entrepreneurs from across the country as they share their stories, experience and expertise on an industry we love.
From the back table to the board room, from wheels in to wheels out. -- we tackle the real-life issues affecting the OR. Whether you're tuning in for surgical service education or inspiration, we're glad you're here. And now, it's time to roll back, and start the First Case…
38episodes
Episodes
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Passing the Mic: Celebrating Melanie Perry's Impact on First Case
1w ago00:45:53Tap to summarizeEvery great podcast has a voice that brings each conversation to life. Over the past five years, Melanie Perry has been that voice for First Case. In this special release episode of the First Case Podcast, we celebrate Melanie's incredible journey as host, reflecting on the stories, guests, and moments that made this podcast such a valuable resource for the perioperative community. Joined by Justin Poulin and Garrett Hollembeak, Melanie looks back on where it all began, shares what's next in her own journey, and offers a heartfelt thank you to the listeners and colleagues who have been part of it all. As one chapter closes and another begins, join us in celebrating Melanie's lasting impact on First Case and the exciting future ahead for the podcast! #FirstCase #PerioperativeEducation #ThankYouMelanie #Education #Podcast #SpecialRelease
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Season 10 Rewind - Empowering Advocacy: Building Coalitions for Change
2w ago00:37:50Tap to summarizeSeason 20 launches on July 6th! In the meantime, please enjoy some of our favorite episodes from Season 10 of First Case. "Are you ready for the Time Out?" How many times have you asked or heard that question? In the operating room we perform a Time Out prior to the start of every surgical case. But it wasn't always that way. Joining us today to share how the Time Out process began is Bill Duffy, RN, MJ, CNOR, FAAN, Director for the Nursing and Healthcare Administration Program at Niehoff School of Nursing at Loyola University in Chicago, IL. In today's interview we'll learn how Bill advocated for establishing a Time Out protocol, what motivated him to push for a change, and learn how we can use our voices to advocate for change as well. #operatingroom #surgery #podcast #scrubtech #surgicaltechnologist #advocacy #perioperative #TimeOut
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Season 10 Rewind - Clearing the Air: Advocating for Surgical Smoke Evacuation Legislation
3w ago00:39:52Tap to summarizeSeason 20 launches on July 6th! In the meantime, please enjoy some of our favorite episodes from Season 10 of First Case. What is so dangerous about surgical smoke? Is it really that bad? Find out all about the very real dangers of surgical smoke in today's interview with Brenda Ulmer, Independent Perioperative Nurse Educator. We'll learn what's lurking in the surgical smoke that we're exposed to every day, how it can affect us and our patients, and we'll hear Brenda's success story of passing legislation in her home state. Don't miss the conversation! Update: Angela Hohn was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2020. She was a longtime OR nurse and her doctor confirmed that her cancer was caused by exposure to surgical smoke. Sadly, she lost her battle with cancer and passed away in January, 2024, after this interview was recorded. #surgicalsmoke #operatingroom #surgery #ornorse #scrubtech #advocacy
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Season 10 Rewind - Empowering Change: A Guide to Advocacy in Healthcare
4w ago00:33:06Tap to summarizeSeason 20 launches on July 6th! In the meantime, please enjoy some of our favorite episodes from Season 10 of First Case. What is advocacy? How can we change practices within our facility and within our state? Joining us today to talk about all things advocacy is Kay Ball, PhD, RN, CNOR, CMLSO, FAAN, adjunct nursing professor at Otterbein University. Kay is a passionate OR nurse and nursing advocate and shares her experience and insight with us to show us how we can advocate for change. Join us as we discover the importance of telling our stories, as we see the impact that our stories can have, and find out the do's and don'ts of advocacy. Don't miss this interview! #operatingroom #surgery #podcast #advocacy #perioperative
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Season 10 Rewind - Empowering Voices: Unleashing Advocacy in Surgical Training
Jun 100:33:20Tap to summarizeSeason 20 launches on July 6th! In the meantime, please enjoy some of our favorite episodes from Season 10 of First Case. How do our training programs teach us to advocate for ourselves and for our patients? In this season premiere of Season 10: Advocacy Unleashed, we sit down with Chris Blevins, CST, FAST, Senior Department Chair of Surgical Technology at South College, in Knoxville, TN. In today's discussion, we'll learn how Chris uses her position as a Surgical Technology educator to teach her students how to find their voices, how to advocate for themselves, and how to advocate for their patients. Don't miss it! #operatingroom #surgery #podcast #scrubtech #surgicaltechnologist #advocacy #perioperative
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Sterile Processing 101: When Things Go Wrong
May 2500:31:26Tap to summarizeEven the best systems have moments when things go wrong. What matters most is how we respond. In the Season 19 finale of Sterile Processing 101, Jen Parrott returns to discuss what happens when things go wrong like wet packs, missing instruments, failed indicators, delays, and breakdowns in the process. This episode is a powerful reminder that solving problems requires more than urgency. It requires communication, accountability, and a culture focused on improvement instead of blame. Because when the OR and SPD work together, setbacks become opportunities to build safer systems for every patient. Don't miss the final episode of Season 19! #operatingroom #ornurse #sterileprocessing #scrubtech
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Sterile Processing 101: Storage, Shelf Life, and Event-Related Sterility
May 1800:51:59Tap to summarizeHow much thought do we really give to packaging… until something goes wrong? In today's interview, we explore the often-overlooked world of storage, shelf life, and event-related sterility with Malinda Elammari, CEO of Crown Point Consulting. From blue wrap and rigid containers to peel packs and transport practices, this episode breaks down why packaging is far more than a wrapper. In reality, it's a critical part of protecting sterility and patient safety. Listen now and discover why packaging matters! #operatingroom #sterileprocessing #ornurse #scrubtech
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Sterile Processing 101: Reading the Tray - Indicators, Tape, Filters, and What They Actually Mean
May 1100:29:37Tap to summarizeHow do you know the tray you just opened is truly ready for your patient? In Episode 6 of Sterile Processing 101, we sit down with Adam Okada to take a closer look at the indicators, tape, filters, and packaging features that communicate critical sterility information before instruments ever reach the field. Join us as we discuss what these indicators do, what they don't tell us, and why the OR team is the final line of defense before those instruments are used on a patient. #operatingroom #sterileprocessing #ornurse #scrubtech
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Sterile Processing 101: Sterilization Methods Explained - Steam, Low-Temp, & IUSS
May 400:46:10Tap to summarizeIn this week's episode, we take a practical look at the science behind sterilization with Bobby Parker from Beyond Clean. From steam cycles to low-temperature, this episode breaks down the different ways instruments are processed and discusses why each method matters. You're also going to gain a clearer understanding of indicators, sterility assurance, and why sterilization takes more time than many realize. But the more we understand the process, the better we can support patient safety and workflow efficiency. #operatingroom #sterileprocessing #ornurse #scrubtech
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Sterile Processing 101: Inspection & Assembly - The Art of Building a Reliable Tray
Apr 2700:54:29Tap to summarizeHow reliable is the tray you open every day? In today's episode, we step into inspection and assembly where cleaned instruments are tested, examined, and built into the trays your OR depends on. This conversation with Kevin Anderson highlights why tray assembly is about far more than checking off a count sheet. From instrument function testing and damaged equipment to borescopes, insulation testing, and missing items, this episode reveals the science behind building a dependable tray. Listen now and gain a new appreciation for the work that happens before the tray reaches your back table. #operatingroom #nurse #scrubtech #sterileprocessing
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