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N E V E R
E V E N T S
• 307 total reported
• 104 wrong-side anesthesia blocks
• 41 wrong-side pain procedures
• 1 procedure started on the wrong side and at the wrong spinal level (counted as half for each)
• 64 other procedures started at the wrong level of the spine (63) or rib cage (1)
• 59 procedures started at a wrong location near the correct location
• Knees, spine, eyes, legs and ureters most common locations for wrong side surgical procedures
Stephanie Wasek
On the Web
"Quarterly Update: What Body Parts and Procedures Are Associated with Wrong-Site Surgery?" tinyurl.com/d6q84n7
done on the right side."
Recordkeeping in the OR is important, too, to document that the steps were done every time, and as a reminder for the team. If possible, it should be done concurrently, on a form that includes each time-out step, rather than after the fact or using a form with a single check box for "time out completed."
Give safety a voice
In an age in which surgeons might practice in their offices, at ASCs and in hospitals, a consistent time out is needed, ideally statewide or
nationally (see "Every Patient, Every Procedure, Every Time" on page 57). In our work to implement the Minnesota Time Out, we know it must be done every time, for every invasive procedure. We have to be fully engaged, and hold surgeons or other team members accountable by regularly observing the ORs.
