Best Practice?
Many hospitals still use disposable theatre caps. But the evidence suggests reusable caps are a safer alternative.
https://www.infectioncontroltoday.com/operating-room/cloth-caps-more-
Reaching a tipping point of change can be a long road in big bureaucracies like hospitals and leading the way can be hard.
People naturally resist change, but when your name and role are on your cap as well, there are positive patient safety, colleague wellbeing and environmental outcomes. https://www.psnetwork.org/theatrecapchallenge-wheres-the-evidence/.
It won’t be easy to think that using disposable theatre caps was best practice and part of the required standards. But in Australia, for example, the ACORN standards do not refer to type of head wear https://www.psnetwork.org/acorns-theatre-caps/.
Individual hospitals may have their own policies, but if they’re stating that disposable caps are best practice, they should be challenged. http://drgetafix.com/2018/03/08/a-challenge-to-cloth-theatre-caps/. If we want the best environment for our patients, our colleagues and ourselves (and I’m guessing we do), it’s time to embrace change. Reusable theatre caps with name and role is a small part of the picture, but it is a simple way to make a difference.
