ORX Proceedings
Page 13
time outs, they're rarely done well. There are distractions, people coming in and out of the room while they're happening, people on cell phones."
That lax approach goes a long way toward explaining the paradox of socalled "never events," says the former Coast Guard pilot, now a managing partner of Convergent HRS in Weston, Fla. "Why do we call them 'never events' if they keep happening?" he asks.
In fact, 72% of the ORX audience said they have experienced a wrong-site surgery or retained object, or know someone who has. Three-quarters felt their facilities were at risk for a wrong-site event in the next 12 months. Only 60% said they think a system can be put in place that will guarantee no wrong-site events.
Mr. Byrum disagrees, saying "it absolutely can be done" and pointing out that other groups classified as high-reliability organizations manage to have
