Safety
S
1 5 2 • O U T PA T I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E • J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 7
• Pre-op briefin-
gs. These are
planned orienta-
tion sessions to
forecast issues the
surgical team
might face
throughout an
entire day of sur-
gery or, if you hold
the huddle in pre-
op before moving a
patient to the OR,
concerns about
specific cases. For
example, the team
can discuss critical
phases of upcom-
ing cases — when
nerve retractors
are in place during
spine surgery, for
example — during which the surgeon wants every member of the
team to remain in the room, quiet and focused on the task at hand.
• What worked, what needs work. Post-op debriefings aren't
common in outpatient surgical facilities, even though the few
minutes immediately after cases end, when the surgery is still
fresh in everyone's mind, are the perfect time to review what
Hold Safety Sessions Before and After Surgery
• TALK IT OUT Pre-surgical huddles and post-op debriefings are
prime opportunities for OR teams to improve safety.
