This presentation will focus on lessons learned from the use of health care laser systems over the years and how the standards and best practices guidelines continue to evolve. I began my laser career in 1989 and that time there was not a health care standard in-place. Much of what is recommended by the current ANSI Z136.3 American Standard for Safe Use of Lasers in Health Care being practiced today to ensure the safety of patients and health care personnel did not exist or was evolved from the practices utilized back then.
This perspective and the lessons learned from near-miss occurrences and actual accidents and injuries is useful to help further evolve the Standard and recommended practices as laser technology, their applications, and required safety practices will continue to evolve moving forward.