As a perioperative leader, have you ever considered… a perioperative mascot? Because this is something that exists in Australia.
A cuddly little stuffed bear named Sir Stitches is now an employee of sorts with The Government of Western Australia’s WA Country Health Service. The tiny mascot is traveling to facilities throughout the service’s network of public hospitals, health services and nursing posts across rural and remote Western Australia to spread some joy and encourage collaboration and connection among clinical teams.
The perioperative mascot is intended to “raise the profile of the outstanding work being done” by scrub/scout nurses, anesthetic nurses/technicians, recovery nurses, sterile processing technicians and support staff.
Sir Stitches visits with the Bunbury Regional Hospital team | Photo credit: Government of Western Australia WA Country Health Service
Sir Stitches is accompanied by his “Bear Essentials” infection prevention protocol, which the government agency says keeps him “clean, safe and adventure ready.” The agency notes that “while he enjoys attending team celebrations, education sessions and staff gatherings, Sir Stitches knows he is not scrubbed in, sterile or credentialed for clinical practice.”
Sir Stitches’ first stop on his “adventure” across the region occurred at Bunbury Regional Hospital. Read more about that visit here. The health service advises interested parties to “stay tuned for updates from Sir Stitches as he continues his travels.” You might get some ideas for creating a similar mascot to boost morale and collaboration in your own facility or system.
And if you already have a perioperative mascot, tell me all about it! Shoot me an email at jpaone@accessintel.com so I can share your own mascot’s purpose and story with the broader perioperative leadership community.
