M A R C H 2 0 1 7 • O U T PA T I E N TS U R G E R Y. N E T • 9 7
A
ny OR leader would say even
one surgical error is one too
many. But how do you get to
zero avoidable errors? Sue Dill Calloway, RN, AD, BA,
BSN, JD, CPHRM, CCMSCP, says it begins with having
an environment where all staff are encouraged to voice their concerns
— and feel comfortable doing so — whenever they see a potentially
unsafe situation.
Not everyone does, she says, using safe injection practices as an
example. Nearly 40% of healthcare professionals who participated in a
2013 Institute for Safe Medication Practices survey said they often felt
too intimidated to ask questions or seek clarification over medication
orders, even if doing so could have prevented an adverse event.
SURGICAL
ERRORS
Create a Culture of Safety
You know you have one when every member of the surgical team feels
comfortable speaking up whenever she sees a potentially unsafe situation.
Bill Donahue
Senior Editor
• SPEAK UP Staff need administrative support
to feel free to voice concerns when they see
situations that could jeopardize patient safety.