Innovative gown keeps surgical patients at the Misericordia hospital safe and warm
January 23, 2025
By Jocelyn Wady, communications advisor
When Darlene Picard, a 67-year-old snowbird and gardener, had surgery at Covenant Health’s Misericordia Community Hospital last fall, she didn’t expect to experience an innovation in her treatment.
During the procedure, her surgical team used the Bair Hugger™ Warming System, one of the latest technologies available at the Misericordia hospital to help reduce surgical site infections (SSIs) — a key focus for Covenant Health.
Darlene says using the technology was very comfortable and she was pleased it was part of the entire surgical process.
The Bair Hugger Warming System features a gown and blankets that use warm forced air to keep a patient at their optimal body temperature, between 36 to 38 degrees Celsius, throughout their surgical journey — from pre-op to recovery. Maintaining a patient’s normothermic (i.e., normal) temperature before, during and after surgery has been proven to help reduce SSIs.
SSIs occur when there is microbial contamination at the surgical site during or after a procedure, says Janna Klyne, patient safety co-ordinator for surgery at the Misericordia and Grey Nuns hospitals. The incidence rate varies widely depending on patient risk factors, type of surgery, hospital environment and wound care. However, SSIs remain a common concern in Alberta hospitals.
The Bair Hugger Warming System is just one tactic the Misericordia hospital is using to fight SSIs, Janna says. Another measure being taken to prevent SSIs is the use of special wipes.
“We use chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) wipes to first clean the skin and reduce the bacterial load. Then we put the clean Bair hugger gown on the clean skin and get the patient settled.”
A temperature monitoring system applied to the patient’s forehead ensures accurate temperature reads as their surgery progresses. The patient can control the temperature so that it is comfortable for them, and they keep the gown on as they are being moved from one treatment area to another.
After the procedure, the Bair Hugger Gown goes back on the patient as they move to the recovery room.
Darlene appreciated the portability of the warming system as she moved through her procedure.
“I was impressed that (the system) was available in the pre-op room and also in the holding room prior to them walking you down to the actual surgery,” says Darlene. “And then once you were there, you were hooked up again.”
Other patients have had similar responses, says Janna. “One patient actually said they felt like they were getting a warm hug prior to surgery, which was lovely.”
The Misericordia hospital piloted the Bair Hugger Warming System for three months in the summer of 2024, beginning with patients undergoing procedures longer than 30 minutes. In October 2024, use of the system was then expanded to include all surgeries at the Misericordia regardless of surgical time.
This is a step in the right direction towards the hospital’s overall goal of reducing surgical site infections, says Janna.
As data is collected, use of the Bair Hugger Warming System will be expanded to other Covenant Health sites.
Darlene was happy with her experience and would recommend the gown be used for all surgeries.
“I was very pleased with the treatment,” says Darlene. “My doctor — this was my second surgery with her — is absolutely excellent. The staff were very attentive. And the gown was very comfortable.”