"Wrong-site surgery," says Ms. Spratt, "somehow is still a terrible
problem."
A reasonable volume
Safety isn't just about policies and procedures;
it's about having a realistic expectation for
how much surgery you can do in a day. For
surgical facilities, it can be a difficult balance
of competing interests.
"For patient safety in operating rooms, the
biggest challenge is productivity pressure,"
says Gail M. Horvath, MSN, RN, CNOR,
CRCST, senior patient safety analyst and consultant for the ECRI
Institute in Plymouth Meeting, Pa.
The pressure to keep up the patient volume can clash with your
safety protocols, says Ms. Horvath. An overly ambitious case load
could lead to skipped steps on the checklist or unsterile instruments.
Your need for speed can't supersede your obligation to safety, she
says. When you look at your room turnover, for example, everyone
should be working from a common definition and seeking to hit a
realistic time, says Ms. Horvath.
"What do we do to relieve these pressures on the people at the front
line providing care in the OR?" asks Ms. Horvath.
Human error in counting sponges and instruments can lead to disas-
trous mistakes. Technology to reduce retained items might have some
upfront costs, but you're only one missed sponge away from an even
bigger payout and headache.
"It's sometimes getting people to see cost avoidance rather than cost
savings," says Ms. Horvath.
5 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 • F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 9
Gail M. Horvath, MSN, RN,
CNOR, CRCST
