Information on AORN's Correct Site Surgery Tool Kit

AORN Journal,  June, 2004  

• E-mail
• Print
• Link

As part of AORN's commitment to patient safety, AORN's "Correct Site Surgery Tool Kit" was mailed free of charge to all members, facility chief executive officers (CEOs), and risk managers at the end of April 2004. The tool kit has received endorsement from the American College of Surgeons, the American Society of Anesthesiologists, the American Society for Healthcare Risk Management, the American Hospital Association, and the American Association of Ambulatory Surgery Centers. In addition, staff members of the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) provided valuable support to AORN in developing the tool kit.

The tool kit contains critical and concise information to help facilities implement JCAHO's Universal Protocol for Preventing Wrong Site, Wrong Procedure, Wrong Person Surgery. The protocol includes a preoperative verification process, a process to mark the intended site of the procedure, and a time-out immediately before the procedure commences to verify the correct patient; procedure; and site, including laterality.

Developed by AORN and produced under an educational grant from Sandel Medical Industries, Inc, the tool kit contains

* a copy of the JCAHO Universal Protocol and Guidelines for Implementation;

* a CD-ROM featuring best practice techniques used in the implementation of the Universal Protocol;

* a pocket reference card with the three steps necessary to promote correct site surgery;

* letters to perioperative nurses, physicians, CEOs, and risk managers encouraging them to promote standardization of the Universal Protocol in all facilities;

* a sample policy template;

* answers to frequently asked questions, references, and web sites that contain additional information;

* a patient education brochure titled "Help prevent errors in your care: For surgical patients"; and

* information about earning one contact hour.

Work began on the toot kit after a recommendation was made by the AORN Presidential Commission on Patient Safety in September 2003. Although AORN and more than 40 health care organizations have endorsed the JCAHO Protocol, the Presidential Commission realized that endorsement of the Universal Protocol was not enough, and perioperative nurses need additional resources to implement this protocol effectively.

The Joint Commission will begin surveying institutions based on the Universal Protocol guidelines in July 2004. AORN encourages adoption of the JCAHO Universal Protocol in every facility.

Additional copies of the tool kit are available for purchase for $5.95 for members and $11.95 for nonmembers, plus $4 postage and handling. To purchase copies, contact AORN customer service at (800) 755-2676 x 1 of send an e-mail to custsvc@aorn.org.

Universal Protocol for Preventing Wrong Site, Wrong Procedure, Wrong Person Surgery is trademark of the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, Oakbrook Terrace, Ill.

COPYRIGHT 2004 Association of Operating Room Nurses, Inc.
COPYRIGHT 2004 Gale Group