Reps in the OR

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If there's a device or hardware, it seems like there's a rep telling the surgeon what to do.

I generally don't get involved and I have no idea what training they're held to, but I do know that they have to register with our OR before being allowed to walk in.
 
Too damn many, that's for sure. On some big cases there might be five reps in the room. Most of them are decent but occasionally we get a buffoon. They are supposed to wear different colored scrubs and a bright red bouffant hat. The hospital uses one of the rep credentialling software systems, so they all have to go by and print out their daily stick-on nametag before they come in the OR. They're not supposed to be in the OR till after induction. They can't scrub or participate in the procedure in any way. Most are superfluous, but a few, such as those working with the various stealth systems, actually do a fair amount.
 
I wonder what the infection control consequences might be. I'm watching them stand directly over the instruments.
 
IveGotTwins said:
We have an ofirmev rep in every room at all times. They give you a Starbucks gift card every time you give their stuff. It's pretty sweet!
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Wtf!!!
I would stop giving it all together.
No wonder the price went up so much.
I would personally escort that rep out of the OR.
 
Wow. I thought that was silly enough to be recognized as a joke.

But seriously the only rep I've ever seen that provides anything for us has been ofirmev.
 
I've worked with Edwards Proplege reps in the past. They've been very knowledgable and helpful. The situation is probably similar for many surgical device reps.
 
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There are ALWAYS reps in our total joint rooms and lots in the joint scope rooms.

Generally they are harmless. They mostly seem pretty bro-y and at times it makes me a little uncomfortable with how much the surgeon relies on their advice. They seem like they range from acceptable to very helpful, i.e., I've never seen a surgeon get frustrated with them or their advice. I haven't seen any act unprofessionally or interfere with anything on our end.
 
Generally one for joints, spines and shoulder scopes, they sometimes team up to help one another in a complex redo. All in all we see about 7 regulars that are all very good.

IGT: i laughed
 
Very often in ortho rooms...most seem like ex-jocks/frat bros. Annoying but they don't ever talk to me, so no harm no foul.
 
When I was a resident an ortho rep was walking around behind the anesthesia machine when all of the sudden the screen goes blank. I yelled at her and she was adamant that she was not responsible for the unplugging!
 
Had a case cancel this weekend. Rep couldn't make it because of weather. Never had that one before, but I guess they're an essential part of the operation now.
 
No more than one rep per room... be it regular ortho or ortho spine. What's the need to have more than one? Seems silly unless they are getting trained or something of that nature.
 
Usually one or two in the room. But it always amazes me, how much the orthopods rely on the reps to do the cases properly.
 
Biochemist21 said:
That's surprising............ and mildly disturbing.
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Don't know if it's the case here, but on obgyn, we required the rep for some d&c's. Our institution rented equipment from the reps company - he brought the disposable parts to each case each day. When he was running late one day, we did the d&c old school without his equipment, but maybe it was required in an ortho case
 
I've wondered about infection control too. A lot of them lean right over the trays and vigorously point and geture so the tech can grab the correct item. The good ones have laser pointers which seems like an essential tool of the trade to me. If I was the orthopod sweating my arse off in a spacesuit in an attempt to decrease my infection rates, I certainly wouldn't want some bro shaking his guns all over my equipment. I'd make them use a laser!
 
Way back when I was a resident, one of the neurosurg residents told a funny story. They were doing a crani, and the rep had this new way of putting the bone flap back on. There was something technical about it, and it didn't go right, and the bone flap goes flying through the air, with kind of a "sproing". The resident said that it was "like it was in slow motion, just flying through the air", until it clattered on the tile, coming to rest at the wall. He said that the attending couldn't chew him out, because he wasn't touching it. He said they put the bone into the autoclave, and it came out looking like a cinder, but it fit, just looking rather dramatic with the black bone against the pearlescent native bone.
 
Random Resident said:
In a spine case today. 4 reps. I hate when they use my space for their crap.
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Don't just hate it/them; push them out of your space. If they need space, they should feel free to stay in the circulator's/scrub's corner. If they really need to be close to the field, next to the anesthesia equipment, let the pertinent one or two stay there, as needed, with the understanding that they get out of your way stat when you need to do stuff. This is not the surgeon's corner at the local pub.

Always ask yourself: in case of an emergency/code, do I have enough space to work? Same goes for people putting crap on your cart/machine. You are the EM/CCM doc in the ICU, and those are your tools/space in case of an emergency. Do not compromise, even if you are a resident. Be polite and accommodating, as much as possible, but put patient safety first.
 
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FFP said:
Don't just hate it/them; push them out of your space. If they need space, they should feel free to stay in the circulator's/scrub's corner. If they really need to be close to the field, next to the anesthesia equipment, let the pertinent one or two stay there, as needed, with the understanding that they get out of your way stat when you need to do stuff. This is not the surgeon's corner at the local pub.

Always ask yourself: in case of an emergency/code, do I have enough space to work? Same goes for people putting crap on your cart/machine. You are the EM/CCM doc in the ICU, and those are your tools/space in case of an emergency. Do not compromise, even if you are a resident. Be polite and accommodating, as much as possible, but put patient safety first.
Click to expand...

Thanks. I need to be more assertive with that. It doesn't help when the surgeon is a huge diva.
 
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