4 0 • O U T PA T I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E • O C T O B E R 2 0 1 9
Put down in writing your expecta-
tions for ensuring no item is left
behind in patients. At a minimum,
your facility's policy covering
retained objects should be:
• Evidence-based. A policy
needs to be based upon a risk
assessment using internal data
and published evidence, according
to Victoria M. Steelman, PhD, RN,
CNOR, FAAN, a patient safety
expert and associate professor at
the University of Iowa College of
Nursing in Iowa City.
Analyzing the types of proce-
dures you perform, the number
of retained object events you've
had in the past and the risks described in published research
will help guide how robust your policy needs to be.
• Carefully worded. The language of your policy is important,
and subtle changes can make a big difference in how your staff
interprets your processes. For example, many facilities refer to
their policies as "The Surgical Count" or something along those
lines. Dr. Steelman has a major issue with that because "it
implies that if some surgical item is left in the patient, it's com-
pletely the responsibility of the nursing staff."
By its very nature, a policy that includes the use of scanning or
IN WRITING
Count on These Policy Essentials
WORD PLAY Spell out that nurses and techs aren't
the only ones responsible for ensuring all objects are
removed from patients.
Pamela
Bevelhymer,
RN,
BSN,
CNOR
