Support VA SB 537, Surgical Smoke Evacuation Legislation

AORN Richmond Chapter has been diligently working for the past year to have Virginia join fifteen other states to enact the Surgical Smoke Law. AORN members and VNA members attended the General Assembly session yesterday to ask their representatives  for their support. It went before the subcommittee this morning and has been elected to move on to the Senate for a vote next Thursday. Please reach out to your Senator to ask for their support!! 

Click here to find your Senator and generate a letter or you may use the sample letter below.

A sample email letter states: 

Hello, my name is ___________and I am a constituent of yours from District ___. I am writing to you for your support on Senate Bill 537  "Hospital regulations: use of smoke evacuation systems during surgical procedure" in the upcoming Senate 2024 session. I am/have been (you choose) an operating room nurse for _____ years and am aware of the dangers of surgical smoke that impacts all perioperative staff including nurses, surgeons, physician assistants, surgical technicians. surgical assistants, anesthesia providers, and patients. Please support this important workplace safety issue. 

 The Bill states: "Requires the Board of Health to amend its regulations to require that every hospital where surgical procedures are performed adopt a policy requiring the use of a smoke evacuation system for all planned surgical procedures. The bill defines "smoke evacuation system" as smoke evacuation equipment and technologies designed to capture, filter, and remove surgical smoke at the site of the origin and to prevent surgical smoke from making ocular contact or contact with a person's respiratory tract."

 We need to take care of the new generations of surgical nurses as well as patients. Your support is greatly appreciated! Hope to see you soon!!

 Janet Shortt

President AORN Richmond Chapter 4702