Our goal is
zero
means...
Our goal is...
zero
surgical smoke
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zero
retained surgical sponges
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zero
splash & spills
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zero
drug diversion
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zero
slips, trips & falls
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Our goal is
z
e
r
o
tm

...relentlessly caring for your patients.

In a fast-paced environment littered with risks and hazards, you continue to rise and sacrifice your own wellness and safety to stay committed to your duty.

Your dedication and devotion to the welfare of others is the inspiration behind our drive to create solutions that improve your safety.

“If we’re not going to commit to zero harm now, then when? And if we’re not going to do it, who will do it?… If not us, then who?

– Mark Chassin,
CEO Joint Commission7

Through this, we observed the risks, challenges and unintended outcomes you encounter in the operating room.

We champion technologies that are designed to be a safeguard. As your trusted partner, we support your culture of safety measures and quality management by prioritizing zero harm.

You deserve to have zero doubt and total peace of mind knowing your operating room is safe for all patients, surgeons and nurses.

The journey to zero has been decades in the making.

We are guided by a strong commitment to build and emphasize a culture of safety. And together, we are on the journey to zero harm – for both caregivers and patients.

Together, our goal is zero™.

1995 - 2000
The Institute of Medicine
launched a comprehensive quality initiative, Joint Commission established sentinel event policy, Leapfrog Group was founded, and the cornerstone To Err is Human report is published.
2001
Our goal is zero
splash & spills
Splash incidence rates are up to 60% with canister fluid disposal.3 Pioneered by an OR nurse, we launched the first-generation Neptune fluid and smoke waste management system as the only constantly closed system on the market.
2008
Our goal is zero blind spots.
Illuminated instruments enter the retractor market, enabling thermally cool visualization to combat the risks of limited access and visualization.
2012
Healthcare rankings increase in visibility.
Clinicians and patients are aware of their choices for safe care. U.S. News updates their Best Hospital list criteria and Leapfrog has launched their Hospital Safety Grades.
2016
Our goal is zero
surgical smoke.
A mounting body of evidence shows surgical plume contains 150+ chemicals and 16 EPA priority pollutants.8 We combated this with our 2015 smoke evacuation launch. In 2016, AORN launched its Go Clear Award Program. In 2018, Rhode Island passed legislation to become the first state to go smoke free.
2018
Our goal is zero retained surgical sponges.
Surgical sponges are retained nearly 12 times each day.2 Despite its continued position as a top 10 sentinel event year after year, including being the No. 1 reported sentinel event as recently as 2018, standalone manual counting practices remain the standard of care. Stryker’s SurgiCount system is the only adjunct technology with a track record of zero. 11 million procedures, 0 retained sponges.*

“Zero is possible. Zero harm is an achievable goal. Healthcare organizations give a lot of reasons for why they don’t want to commit to the goal of zero harm. But I have to say, if you are satisfied with just a couple percent better - how many patients is it okay if they suffer preventable infections. I think the only acceptable answer is zero. If we’re not going to commit to zero now - then when? And if we’re not going to do it, who will do it? If not us, then who?”

– Mark Chassin,
CEO Joint Commission7
(Citation source: 4:54-6:05)

2018
The Joint Commission launches the Leading the way to Zero
campaign to create a future of zero harm in healthcare.
2020
A tranformational shift in the focus on protecting caregivers on the front lines is rising. Today, 78% of nurses say they are experiencing unprecedented levels of physical, emotional and mental stress, and 67% of nurses plan to leave their facility or the industry altogether.9

You are at the heart of what we do and why we innovate.

We safeguard caregivers so you can bolster your operating rooms, reinforce your processes and protect your patients.

We are here to collaborate with you to meet your education, implementation and standardization expectations.

This is just the beginning. And together, we can achieve zero harm — for both caregivers and patients.

Where is my facility on
its culture of safety journey to zero harm?

Take the assessment to find out

Follow our journey to zero

See our latest stories @strykerfornurses

1. Hill D, O’Neill J, Powell R, Oliver D. Surgical Smoke - a health hazard in the operating theatre. A study to quantify exposure and a survey of the use of smoke extractor systems in UK plastic surgery units. Journ Plas Reconstr Aesthet Surg. 2012; 65(7): 911-6.

2. Eisler, P. “What Surgeons Leave Behind Costs Some Patients Dearly.” USA TODAY. March 8, 2013.

3. Patel, R. “Findings of a Comparative analysis of Operating Room Fluid Waste Removal at Hospital for Special Surgery: A Randomized Study Comparing the Stryker Neptune Waste Management System to Suction Canisters.”

4.  Simmons, R. et al. “Nipple Sparing Mastectomy and the Advent of an Enabling Surgical Illumination.

5. https://www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/data/statedeaths.html. Accessed July 2017

6. https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2011-123/pdfs/2011-123.pdf?s_cid=3ni7d2X_NSC_June2016#:~:text=According%20to%20the%20U.S.%20Bureau,per%2010%2C000%20em%2D%20ployees). Accessed June 8 2020

7. https://www.jointcommission.org/performance-improvement/joint-commission/leading-the-way-to-zero/zero-patient-harm-is-achievable/

8. Andreasson S, Mahteme H, Sahlberg B, Anundi H. Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Electrocautery Smoke during Peritonectomy Procedures. Journal of Environmental and Public Health. 2012: 1-6

9. https://www.feedtrail.com/general/newly-released-holliblu-and-feedtrail-covid-19-nurse-survey-has-finger-on-the-pulse-of-nursing-professionals-nationwide-as-featured-in-nbc-nightly-news-with-stephanie-gosk/

Zero splash and spills, zero airborne contaminants, zero smoke, zero retained surgical sponges, zero blind spots, zero trips & falls, zero drug diversion, and zero doubt messages are not guarantees and are aspirational in nature.