communicate with us about what they're feeling.
Patients who will have a catheter placed during the nerve block to
continuously administer numbing medication also receive instructions
on the management of the pain pump and catheter, and potential
signs of complications to watch for during recovery. We also provide a
24-hour phone number they can call with any questions.
We're currently in the process of working with our orthopedic sur-
geons on developing pamphlets and information they can provide to
patients who will be having non-joint replacement orthopedic surger-
ies and who could benefit from a nerve block being part of their pain
management plan.
4. Dedicated block room
Identify cases that might be appropriate for a block and plan staffing
assignments and the surgical schedule accordingly to ensure patients
who will receive blocks arrive earlier than normal, and allot extra time
on the front end of cases to place the blocks.
If possible, administer blocks outside of the OR. We have a dedicat-
ed space and dedicated staff that set up for and administer nerve
blocks outside of the OR. This decreases patient time in the OR and
improves workflow, as the nerve block is performed while the OR is
being turned over.
The dedicated block area is outfitted specifically for pre-op proce-
dures, with additional lighting and well-organized carts that hold all
the equipment and drugs we need to support blocks. A sterile field is
set up. A dedicated nurse monitors the patient with sedation until the
circulating nurse arrives to get the hand-off report and take the
patient to the OR.
There are always risks associated with placing nerve blocks, but
those risks are minimized by following accepted best practice safety
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