CONMED, Lovell back federal smoke evacuation efforts

CONMED and Lovell Government Services are expanding support for federal healthcare facilities seeking AORN recognition for surgical smoke evacuation safety. The partnership aims to help VA, military, and other federal sites improve compliance, protect staff and patients, and adopt newer smoke management technology. Why it matters: - Surgical smoke exposure remains a workplace safety issue in operating rooms, and federal facilities are under pressure to adopt stronger evacuation practices. - The partnership gives VA, Military Health System and other federal healthcare organizations a clearer path to meet smoke evacuation requirements and pursue AORN recognition. - The effort also supports broader federal procurement goals by channeling CONMED products through a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business vendor. What happened: - Lovell Government Services and CONMED said they are continuing their partnership to support federal healthcare facilities pursuing the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses Center of Excellence in Surgical Safety: Smoke Evacuation Recognition Program. - The announcement was made June 18, 2026. - CONMED is a global medical technology company focused on surgical devices and equipment. - Lovell Government Services serves as CONMED’s SDVOSB vendor for federal healthcare customers. The details: - The AORN recognition program honors facilities that have implemented evidence-based surgical smoke evacuation practices. - The program is open to facilities across the Veterans Health Administration, Military Health System and other federal healthcare organizations. - Lovell gives federal customers access to CONMED’s Buffalo Filter smoke management solutions through established federal contracting channels. - CONMED said the Buffalo Filter line helps facilities meet smoke evacuation requirements while supporting surgical safety initiatives. - CONMED is introducing the PlumeSafe X5, its most advanced smoke evacuation system to date. - The PlumeSafe X5 is designed for modern operating rooms and includes enhanced filtration performance, workflow efficiency and user-focused features. - CONMED also supports facilities seeking AORN recognition with professional clinical education, needs assessments, gap analyses, policy development and implementation support. - Special fourth-quarter pricing is available on select Buffalo Filter smoke evacuation products. - CONMED products are available to federal healthcare customers through multiple government procurement channels. - Working with Lovell as an SDVOSB vendor is intended to streamline acquisition while supporting agencies’ socioeconomic procurement goals. - CONMED said its smoke-free operating room mission has lasted 35 years. Between the lines: - The partnership is as much about implementation support as it is about equipment sales, which can matter for federal facilities that need policy changes, training and workflow adjustments before adoption sticks. - The AORN recognition path may help facilities signal compliance and standardization, which can be important in large health systems where safety practices vary across sites. - The new product push suggests CONMED is using the federal channel to accelerate adoption of its latest smoke evacuation platform. What’s next: - Federal facilities interested in AORN recognition can use the partnership’s education, assessment and implementation resources to build or expand smoke evacuation programs. - CONMED and Lovell are positioning the fourth-quarter pricing incentive to encourage broader adoption of select Buffalo Filter products. - Federal healthcare buyers can continue accessing CONMED products through Lovell and other procurement channels. The bottom line: - CONMED and Lovell are pairing medical technology, contracting access and implementation support to help federal healthcare systems reduce surgical smoke exposure and strengthen operating room safety.