Electronic tool aids in navigating preop process
Preop “nurse navigators” aided by an electronic tool are helping a Pennsylvania health system create a more standardized, user-friendly preoperative process for preparing patients for surgery. A cornerstone of the process is evidence-based guidelines for preop evaluation developed by a 50-person task force. “We wanted to optimize our approach so…
Duke protocol ensures right level of screening
Four years ago, Duke Health’s Preop Screening Unit was facing challenges. The unit had a full schedule, some appointments were double-booked, and some patients had long wait times. There was no system for separating healthy patients from complex ones. Meanwhile, surgery centers were asking the unit to provide screening for…
How clinics help the preop process
The preoperative process is critical to safe care and a smooth OR process. Missing paperwork, incomplete assessments, and the need for last-minute consults can disrupt any surgical day. Is a preoperative clinic the answer? Each organization needs to weigh the cost against the potential benefits, such as fewer delays and…
Better compliance for preop BP meds
When leaders at New Jersey Surgery Center (NJSC) saw an increase in postoperative hypertension and lengths of stay for some patients, they decided to look deeper. They learned that discharges were being delayed because more patients were receiving vasoactive drugs and needed prolonged surveillance, says Patricia O'Donnell, RN-BC, CPAN, CAPA,…
Should MRSA protocols include screening for surgical patients?
Will your preoperative process need to accommodate screening for MRSA? More hospitals are looking at whether to test presurgical patients for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, at least for certain procedures, such as those with implants. Evidence shows that patients colonized with MRSA are more likely to develop an infection than those…
Cardiac screening guidelines revised
Updated guidelines for the preoperative cardiac evaluation and care of patients having noncardiac surgery have been issued by the American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association. The revision is the first since 2002. The guidelines include an updated algorithm for perioperative management. One recommendation is that patients not stop…
Preop briefings gain momentum as a strategy for patient safety
Momentum is gathering to extend preoperative briefings. OR teams already must pause before the incision to verify the surgical site. Now some experts would like to see these briefings expanded to include other critical aspects of the procedure. A new study from Johns Hopkins Medicine published in February found OR…
Strategies that help to smooth patients' preop preparation
Amissing consent form. A patient who arrives on the morning of surgery needing a cardiac work-up. A history and physical absent from the chart. A lab result that isn't available. Difficulty coordinating the preanesthesia evaluation. Preop process articles Page 10: What works to smooth preop process? Page 14: Role of…
Role of preop clinic in OR efficiency
What role does a preoperative clinic play in addressing medical problems that could cause delays or cancellations if patients aren't assessed until the day of surgery? In a new study, researchers conducted a 3-month retrospective review of records of more than 5,000 patients seen in the preop clinic at Brigham…
What works to smooth preop process?
Three organizations describe steps they've taken to improve their preoperative processes. Close ties with MD offices Piedmont Hospital Atlanta500 beds, 21 inpatient and 8 outpatient ORs24,000 cases per year A close relationship with physicians' offices keeps the preop process on track at this urban facility. The relationships were forged 15…
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