9 0 • O U T P A T I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E • J U L Y 2 0 2 0
W
hen the
Joint
Commission
looked at
the most
commonly reported sentinel
events from ambulatory care
organizations in 2018 and the
first half of 2019, wrong-site sur-
geries and retained objects
topped the list. Never events?
Hardly. How should surgical
teams respond to the continuing
occurrence of avoidable errors?
For one, they can prioritize clear
communication about safe
patient care.
Regularly scheduled pre-op
huddles have been paramount in improving the surgical team's com-
munication skills at Boston Children's Hospital, according to Megan
Nolan, BSN, RN, CNOR, CSSM, clinical coordinator in the cardiac
operating room. An interdisciplinary team meets 30 minutes before
patients are wheeled in for surgery.
"We decided to establish a consistent place to meet, and always
huddle in the OR so perfusionists and scrub nurses can join the brief-
Danielle Bouchat-Friedman | Associate Editor
Communication and Cooperation
Prevent Avoidable Errors
Structure, checklists and pre-op time outs protect patients from harm.
HUDDLE UP The interdisciplinary pediatric cardiac surgical team at
Boston Children's Hospital engages in preoperative briefings to ask
questions and raise concerns regarding the care of the patient.
Megan
Nolan,
BSN,
RN,
CNOR,
CSSM
