In this week's episode of First Case, we sit down with JD Buchert, Director of Workforce Safety at Parkland Health in Dallas, TX, to discuss the unique challenges transgender patients face as they navigate the healthcare setting. Did you know that over 70% of transgender individuals turn to emergency departments for care, often due to discrimination or harassment in other medical spaces? In this powerful discussion, JD highlights the importance of using gender-affirming language and treating each patient with respect, leaving biases at the door. He shares how inclusive care not only improves patient outcomes but also reduces overall healthcare costs. Tune in to learn how to create a safe, compassionate environment for everyone.

#operatingroom #ornurse #surgicaltechnologist #perioperative #perioperativenurse

On this episode 4 of the StreetClothes podcast, we talk to Lindsay Brown, a Minnesota clinician who has a passion project unlike any other! Not only does she know where babies come from (every child's eternal question), she also knows how clinical expertise beautifully combines with nurturing care during life's very first moments.

Tune in to hear how Linds's work as a doula brings comfort and advocacy to the birthing experience outside of her 9-5 healthcare role...

If you like this series OR have an interesting side-hustle, passion project, or hobby you do outside of your hospital day job that keeps you inspired, refreshed, and motivated, we'd love to hear from you! Message Hank Balch on LinkedIn for a chance to come on the show and share it with the world!

#StreetClothes #Hobbies #SideHustles #PeopleMatter #Healthcare #BeyondClean #FirstCase #PowerSupply #TransmissionControl #HealthcareHQ

Delivering truly patient-centered care requires cultural awareness and sensitivity. In this week's episode of First Case, Charlie Lin, Nurse Practitioner and First Assist at Stanford Children’s Pediatric Otolaryngology, shares key considerations for providing culturally competent surgical care to Asian patients. Learn how to recognize cultural differences, navigate family dynamics, and enhance communication to improve patient outcomes and foster trust in the perioperative setting.

#operatingroom #ornurse #surgicaltechnology #scrubtech #FirstCasePodcast #CulturalCompetence #PerioperativeCare

In this week's episode, we're changing our focus, and seeing the operating room through the eyes of the patient. Becca Kinney—a former sterile processing technician, medical sales representative, and now entrepreneur—joins us to share her personal journey as a breast cancer survivor.

With a clinical background and firsthand experience undergoing multiple surgeries, Becca offers a unique and deeply moving perspective on surgical care. She discusses the emotional and physical challenges of her diagnosis and treatment, the value of clear communication and compassionate care, and how even the smallest gestures from caregivers can have a lasting impact.

Her story is a powerful reminder that behind every procedure is a person who is scared, vulnerable, and in need of connection. Tune in for an episode that underscores the importance of empathy, anticipatory guidance, and truly seeing our patients as people.

#operatingroom #perioperativenurse #surgicaltechnologist #perioperative #FirstCasePodcast #BreastCancerAwareness #PatientExperience #PerioperativeCare #SurgicalTeam #HealthcareProfessionals #SterileProcessing #EmpathyInMedicine

On this episode 3 of our brand new StreetClothes human-interest podcast series, we talk to two healthcare professionals who have a passion project that's far from fowl play! Not only have they created their own backyard flock of feathered friends, they've also cracked the code for beating those sky-high egg prices!

Tune in to hear how Sean Weir & Stacey Gielen became known as the "Chicken Tenders" and how these quirky birds bring sustainable joy to their lives outside the hospital...

If you like this series OR have an interesting side-hustle, passion project, or hobby you do outside of your hospital day job that keeps you inspired, refreshed, and motivated, we'd love to hear from you! Message Hank Balch on LinkedIn for a chance to come on the show and share it with the world!

#StreetClothes #Hobbies #SideHustles #PeopleMatter #Healthcare #BeyondClean #FirstCase #PowerSupply #TransmissionControl #HealthcareHQ

In this week's article, we're diving into the power of purposeful teaching with “Intentionality in Surgical Technology Instruction” originally written by First Case co-host Chris Blevins, CST, FAST.

From creating hands-on, realistic lab experiences to flipping the classroom for deeper engagement, this episode highlights how surgical technology educators can shape confident, competent future CSTs through intentional and reflective instruction.

Whether you teach in the lab or lecture in the classroom, this one's for you. Don’t miss these insights that go beyond skill-building to foster professionalism, critical thinking, and advocacy for our surgical tech students.

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Articles On-the-Go presents perioperative insights from written articles in a creative, easy to listen, audio format. Think audio book, meets busy Operating Room professional!

#SurgicalTechnology #PeriopEducation #FirstCasePodcast #OREducation #CST #SurgTechInstructor #ArticlesOnTheGo

Implicit bias - it’s unconscious, it’s uncomfortable, and it affects patient care more than we may realize.

In this powerful episode, we sit down with Darlene Murdock, Staff Nurse at Memorial Hermann Hospital, to explore how our own hidden biases can lead to unequal treatment, impact patient outcomes, and create barriers to compassionate care. Darlene shares real-life stories, eye-opening stats, and actionable steps to help us become more self-aware and patient-focused in the OR and beyond. Tune in now to take the first step toward understanding your own implicit bias!

#operatingroom #perioperative #perioperativenurse #implicitbias #surgicaltechnologist #scrubtech #podcast