1 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 • S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 7
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That
M
any of our patients arrive
at our facility with their
surgical site already
marked. At the urging of our orthope-
dic surgeons, patients mark their
operative sites with a big "YES" with
a Sharpie before they leave home. It's
a way to augment our strict site-
marking policy. Of course, once
patients arrive at our facility, physi-
cians mark operative sites with their
initials, and the initials must be visi-
ble to the OR team once the patient
is prepped and draped. If they aren't
visible, we break down the sterile
field and the surgeon re-marks the
site in an area that's not covered up
by the drape.
Nikki Williams, RN, CNOR
Lakeland (Fla.) Surgical
& Diagnostic Center
nwilliams@lsdc.net
Patients Mark Their
Sites Before They
Leave Home
EXTRA PRECAUTION
• HOMESCHOOLED Before they leave for our facility,
we ask patients to mark the surgical site at home.