Specialty trays for vascular needs, on the other hand, should be
unopened in the OR or close by right outside of it. If keeping extra
instruments in the OR is a priority, you can free up space by adding
extra ring stands, small back tables and prep stands.
5. Take full advantage of the time out. On top of confirm-
ing the patient's identify, the surgical site and the planned procedure,
the time out offers a prime opportunity for robotic safety and efficiency.
This is the time where your surgeon should be reviewing the contin-
gency plan, reminding staff of their roles in the event of a change and
listing all the available resources — open-approach supplies, specialty
instrument trays, back-up scrubs and circulators — that may be need-
ed. Use the time to announce the blood status of the patient and quickly
summarize your facility's transfusion protocols, so you can react more
quickly during crunch time.
Proper planning prevents ...
Yes, proper planning prevents poor performance. Even the most well-
planned robotic procedures can go off the rails in an instant, but the
difference between a disaster and a positive outcome lies in the OR
team's preparation. With the right planning, any capable, well-prac-
ticed team can turn an emergency into a great outcome for your
patient and your facility.
OSM
1 1 8 • O U T PA T I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E • D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 8
Ms. Hayward (jhayward@mednet.ucla.edu) is a nurse, supervisor, coordinator
and team leader at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles, Calif.
