ble for marking surgical sites at their facilities. Another 16% say the
ultimate responsibility belongs either to a combination of people or to
someone else entirely.
"The pre-op nurse verifies the site with the patient while the patient
marks the site," says a hospital administrator, who adds, "most of our
physicians will also make their own site markings." The "technician"
puts an 'X' next to the surgical site, says another administrator.
Several say that either the surgeon or a "designee" does the job.
Having a "designee" mark your sites might be technically permissible,
but it certainly isn't preferable.
Nor should it be necessary, say others. "Don't let the surgeon ever dele-
gate this responsibility," says Kathy Bedger, MS, RN, vice president and
chief nursing officer of Penn Highlands Clearfield (Pa.). There can be no
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