Picture: Larry Opoliner, MD, general surgeon, and the Murphy Medical Center surgical staff take time to communicate with each other before the surgical procedure begins. The hospital practices safety methods such as communication among patients, nurses and physicians as an important ingredient to improve overall care.

Hospitals across the Nation Observe “National Time Out Day”

Many efforts are underway across the nation to increase patient safety in hospitals, ambulatory care and office-based surgery facilities. Physicians, nurses, healthcare professionals, hospital staff and all others who are involved in the care of patients are dedicated to preventing any harm to patients.

In particular with surgical, endoscopic and invasive procedures, patients and their families are encouraged to have ongoing communication that reinforces that the patient is having the correct surgery or procedure, and the correct site for the surgical work is identified. Better communication among patients, nurses and physicians is an important ingredient to improve overall care.

The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO), a non-profit organization that evaluates the quality and safety of care for nearly16,000 health care organizations across the United States, has adopted a new protocol for surgeries. Called the Universal Protocol for Preventing Wrong Site, Wrong Procedure, Wrong Person Surgery, the principal components of the protocol include:

The pre-operative verification process (correct patient for the surgery or procedure)
Marking of the operative site (left side verses right side)
Taking a “time out” immediately before starting the procedure (to verify #1 and #2 and that the consent for the procedure agrees)
Adaptation of the requirements to non-operating room settings, including bedside procedures
All JCAHO accredited hospitals will be required to adopt the universal protocol beginning July 1, 2004. “National Time Out Day”, which was observed last month on June 23 across the nation, was implemented to highlight the JCAHO Universal Protocol and other steps the healthcare community is taking to ensure patient safety.

Last year, 2,320 surgeries were performed at Murphy Medical Center. The hospital, which has been accredited by Joint Commission since 1992, put this safety protocol into practice long before it was mandated by Joint Commission.

“We have been practicing this method of safety for our surgical patients for a long time,” states Kathie Cornwell, RN, one of the charge nurses in Murphy Medical Center’s operating department. Our surgeons and operating room staff are working together with the goal of preventing errors and involving patients as full partners in decisions about their care and treatment. We not only implement this protocol in surgery, but in other areas of healthcare such as drawing blood and dispensing medications.”

The physicians and hospital staff encourage patients and family members to become partners with the rest of their healthcare team to make sure that the treatment and tests they are receiving is meant for them. A hospital is a busy place with many patients and a lot going on at one time. Confusion and mistakes can occur. It is important that patients and family members take an active role.

“We want to empower patients, enabling them to take a proactive role in their healthcare,” states Henry Meinecke, MD, a general surgeon at Murphy Medical Center for the past 15 years. “Patients are healthcare consumers and, like any consumer, they have a right to ask questions and be involved in decisions about their care.”

If you are contemplating surgery or other procedures and have questions or concerns, please feel free to contact your physician’s office.

“Time Out Day” is a special effort to increase safety during surgeries by adopting the Universal Protocol for Preventing Wrong Site, Wrong Procedure, Wrong Person Surgery. The purpose of National Time Out Day is to highlight the JCAHO Universal protocol and other steps the healthcare community is taking to reduce errors, and to encourage patients to become full partners in decisions about their care and treatment.

There are 4,579 JCAHO accredited hospitals

Hospitals, physicians, nurses and all others who are involved in the care of patients are dedicated to preventing any harm from occurring to patients. Patients are encouraged to be strong and effective partners in working with doctors, nurses and other caregivers to ensure that no mistakes or errors occur in their care.

In particular with surgical procedures, patients and their families are encouraged to have ongoing communication that reinforces the correct site for the surgical procedure. Better communication among patients, nurses and physicians is an important ingredient to improve overall care.

Many efforts are underway to increase patient safety and identify the cause of errors. One such effort is the adoption of the Universal Protocol for Preventing Wrong Site, Wrong Procedure, Wrong Person Surgery as set by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO). There are 4,579 JCAHO accredited hospitals

The purpose of National Time Out Day is to highlight the JCAHO Universal protocol and other steps the healthcare community is taking to reduce errors, and to encourage patients to become full partners in decisions about their care and treatment.

The Joint Commission (JCAHO) is an independent, not-for-profit organization, established more than 50 years ago. JCAHO is governed by a board that includes physicians, nurses, and consumers. JCAHO sets the standards by which health care quality is measured in America and around the world.

What We Do

JCAHO evaluates the quality and safety of care for nearly16,000 health care organizations. To maintain and earn accreditation, organizations must have an extensive on-site review by a team of JCAHO health care professionals, at least once every three years. The purpose of the review is to evaluate the organization's performance in areas that affect your care. Accreditation may then be awarded based on how well the organizations met JCAHO standards.