O C T O B E R 2 0 1 6 O U T P A T I E N TS U R G E R Y. N E T 4 7
updated about the current status of the response efforts. It's critically impor-
tant to give someone command of the room, so they can direct the response
and keep everyone focused on specifically what they need to accomplish.
The anesthesia provider and the circulating nurse in the room are responsi-
ble for assigning tasks to responding team members. If the circulator is
unable to step into a leadership role, she can hand the charge responsibility
over to the first responding RN.
When our general emergency code "Dr. Hands On" is called, anyone who's
available responds to the crisis. Our constant practicing and communication
ensure they know exactly what to do when they arrive.
OSM
Ms. Beauchesne (dbeauchesne@nchsi.org)
is director of surgical services at North
Country Hospital in Newport, Vt.
