Patient Safety Highlight: The New Correct-Surgical-Site Policy

There has been a great deal of national attention on correct-site surgery. At a 2003 Wrong Site Surgery Summit held in collaboration with the American Medical Association, American Hospital Association, American College of Physicians, American College of Surgeons, American Dental Association and American Association of Orthopedic Surgeons, a universal protocol for preventing wrong-site, wrong-procedure and wrong-person surgery was developed.

Based on that universal protocol, the St. Mary’s/Dean Ventures correct-surgical-site policy was implemented on August 1, 2003. The two key changes to the existing policy are:

1. The correct surgical site will be labeled yes with a marking pen. This will be done in concert with the patient, based on the procedure as stated on the operative consent.
2. The circulating nurse will call a time-out immediately before the procedure to conduct a final verification of correct site, procedure and patient. All staff and physicians in the operating room will state verbal agreement, and it will be documented as such on the intra-op log.

Copies of this revised correct-surgical-site policy are posted throughout the surgery centers. These changes reflect the recommendations made nationally to standardize practices to identify the correct surgical site. Dean Health Plan acknowledges this effort to improve patient safety during medical procedures and is committed to sharing patient safety processes with our members.

Visit our Website at www.deancare.com or call our Customer Service Department at 800-279-1301 or 608-828-1301 to learn more about patient safety initiatives.

Back to Top