UPKEEP OF GROSS ROOM 1.    During the "cutting in" day, it is the resident's responsibility to shelve all of the specimens which he/she has cut in on that day. Responsibilities also include; putting back specimen trays and cassette holders. It is Martin's responsibility to shelve all of the specimens from that day. 2.    A white plastic container will be filled with a kenzyme solution and placed at the sink on the left side of the room. Instruments used during the day can be placed in the tub and it will be the resident's responsibility to clean these instruments. 3.    It has been the policy for most of us in the past to place broken instruments and those needing to be sharpened, back into the drawer until another resident makes the same discovery. Please make it a point in the future to bring broken instruments to Martin's attention. 4.    Containers for pinning out specimens are under the counter cupboards on the left side of the room. The cupboard also houses pins and paraffin blocks. Carboys containing formalin to fill the containers are located on the left side of the gross room. 5.    The drawer nearest the window on the left side of the room will contain notes, messages, and updates which seem to proliferate in the gross room. 6.    Those of us who have had the experience of rotating to other hospitals know that elsewhere it is the responsibility of the resident at the end of the day to superficially clean the cutting area. We will attempt to bring that tradition to OHSU. At the end of the cutting day, take five minutes to scour the cutting board and cutting area with a sponge or pad and rinse the area as well as wash any dirty instruments. Bleach is provided under the counter as well. 7.    It has been the consensus of most people in the department that specimens should appropriately be held for three months after cutting in. In the past, specimens were accumulating for up to six month periods which tended to decrease the available room in the grossing area. Keep in mind that the new plan is to hold specimens for only three weeks. Because it is apparent that some cases need to be held longer for medical, legal or teaching purposes, any specimen to be saved needs to have the world "save" written on the top and side of the container and placed on the bottom shelf of the specimen shelving. 8.    We have made an effort to inform the entire laboratory that the gross room is primarily for the use of residents and not for storing equipment or supplies for other parts of the lab. I ask you to keep reminding the laboratory personnel that this is the case so that these articles do not accumulate again. All containers, where the specimen has been completely submitted will be thrown in a red bag lined cardboard box next to the trash can for storage of up to a week. They will then be thrown out.