Be cognizant, not complacent when using communication tools
Communication tools such as briefings, debriefings, handoffs, and checklists are considered cornerstones of surgical patient safety, but they’re only effective when used correctly. In many ORs, steps may be skipped that later are linked to adverse events that should not have happened. Greater mindfulness and proper implementation of communication tools…
Musical preference differs by OR specialty, professional role
Editor's Note Musical preferences and perceptions of the effect of music in the OR differ by professional status and specialty, this study finds. A survey of 282 patients and 390 providers (ie, physicians, residents, and nurses in anesthesiology and surgery), found that: Patients who highly enjoyed music said it alleviated…
Dedication, determination help tame PPC beast
Even the most experienced OR leaders often view physician preference cards (PPCs) as a beast that acts out and demands attention at the most inconvenient times. Two organizations that have managed to tame the PPC beast shared their experiences with OR Manager. Updating cards saves more than $3.2 million Tresa…
High reliability: Excellent care every time
High reliability has now permeated the healthcare literature, but some clinicians are still unsure exactly what it means. A simple definition offered by Coleen Smith, MBA, RN, CPHQ, director of High Reliability Initiatives for the Joint Commission Center for Transforming Healthcare, is “excellence in patient care for every patient, every…
Simulation can be an affordable tool for improving care
How can OR managers better prepare staff to handle crisis situations? How can they encourage teamwork? Increasingly, OR leaders are turning to simulation to answer those questions. OR leaders who think they can’t afford a high-fidelity manikin (one that talks and exhibits physiologic changes) and state-of-the-art simulation lab might…
Simulation lab a safe way to practice crisis management
Emergencies such as the one described above don’t happen frequently in the OR, but it is important to prepare for them, and simulation has emerged as an ideal educational tool. This scenario took place in a simulation lab, not a real OR, so the danger to the “patient” (manikin) consisted…
Active listening lowers stress, builds confidence
The use of storytelling and listening to staff stories can be a valuable tool to help OR managers understand and mitigate workplace challenges and incivility. These are the findings of a doctoral study by Patricia Littlejohn, MBA, RN, CNOR, director, neurosciences and program development, Regional Medical Center, San Jose, California.…
Survey: Patients want more electronic communication with providers
Editor's Note A Nielsen survey of 5,000 healthcare recipients found that 15% (aged 18 to 65) communicate with providers through e-mails, 21% schedule appointments online, and 9% get text reminders, the Washington Post reports. Among those who do not communicate electronically, 36% were interested in online appointment scheduling, and 34%…
Decision aids help patients discuss anesthesia options
Editor's Note Informational brochures help patients discuss anesthesia options with their anesthesia providers, finds a study presented at the Anesthesiology 2015 annual meeting in San Diego. In the study, 67 patients were given brochures during a preoperative clinic visit that explained the different types of anesthesia, risks, and benefits, and…
Good surgical-team communication prevents SSIs
Editor's Note In this study, more case-relevant communication among surgical team members during a procedure was associated with fewer organ/space surgical site infections (SSIs). More case-irrelevant communication during the closing phase of the procedure was linked to an increased incidence of incisional SSIs. Distractions were not associated with SSIs. Case-irrelevant…
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