Safety 
Patient identification is a foundational element of perioperative care, yet errors continue to occur despite established protocols and regulatory requirements. While the use of two patient identifiers is standard practice, knowing the patient’s identity alone is not enough to ensure that the intended patient is receiving care. In fast-paced perioperative…
The American College of Surgeons (ACS) announced a new study that finds that blood pressure thresholds that are commonly used to identify dangerously unstable vital signs in pediatric patients “may not signal trouble soon enough” after they suffer a traumatic injury. The findings of the national study of more than…
As autumn approaches, awareness about COVID-19 and other respiratory viruses is on the rise. With some medical professionals and patients concerned about a lack of direction from the federal government on vaccines, the American Medical Association (AMA) has announced that it has collaborated with the Vaccine Integrity Project to complete…
The Tennessee Health Facilities Commission has released an 80-page report that details its investigation into the medication errors at Nashville hospital Ascension Saint Thomas Midtown that impacted four surgical patients. It determined the mistakes were primarily caused by human error. According to local TV station WKRN, “at least four out…
Count discrepancies of surgical items, commonly known as “miscounts,” have been reported since 1882, and they continue to occur despite implementation of professional guidelines for preventative strategies. The stakes remain high, as miscounts can lead to patient harm, increased costs for both patients and facilities, and reputational damage for facilities…
A new report jointly published by KFF Health News and NPR takes a closer look at how “violence against healthcare workers and staffing shortages” are fueling hospital strikes. Some takeaways from the story: “The prevalence of workplace violence in healthcare has fueled strikes in states such as Louisiana, New York,…
The American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology (AANA) has launched a patient education resource called Anesthesia Answers, which it states was created by certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) and nurse anesthesiologists to “help patients and their families navigate one of healthcare's most misunderstood topics: anesthesia.” Available at AnesthesiaAnswers.org, it addresses common…
Responding to the reported medication errors that harmed patients who were undergoing joint replacement surgeries at a Nashville hospital, the Society for Obstetric Anesthesia and Perinatology (SOAP), the Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation (APSF) and the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) Friday “reaffirmed that spinal anesthesia remains a safe and essential…
A devastating medication error that impacted four surgical patients at Ascension Saint Thomas Midtown in Nashville, Tenn., received a large amount of mainstream media attention over the last week—reminding perioperative leaders of the critical importance of medication safety protocols. CBS News affiliate WTVF-TV reported that “at least four people went…
Cleveland Clinic this week promoted a study by its researchers that found that reducing air turnover in unoccupied ORs “can significantly decrease electricity use and costs without negatively affecting clinical outcomes,” including “no association with increased surgical site infection, mortality or ICU admission. The study was the subject of a…
