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O C T O B E R 2 0 1 4 | S U P P L E M E N T T O O U T P AT I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E O N L I N E
ty. Properly marking the site is critical to preventing wrong-site surgery. In my
wrong-procedure case, the correct arm was marked, but the incision site on the
left index finger wasn't. Plus, the marking was washed away during prepping.
It's crucial that your facility have a systematic and consistent approach to identi-
fying the correct patient, operation and site before each procedure is started.
Which is the
best way to
mark the surgical
site?
a.
surgeon's initials
b.
checkmark
c.
the word NO on the
opposite arm
d.
arrow
e.
bull's-eye
Answer:
a
A committee of the
Canadian Orthopaedic
Association issued a
report in 1994 that recom-
mended a program enti-
tled "Operate through
Your Initials," whereby
surgeons were advised to
write their initials over the
planned incision site with
a permanent marker
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