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they are needed immediately. From there, my supervisor, 2 surgical
coordinators and I will head into the OR to get a different set of eyes
on the issue or de-escalate the situation.
When we first rolled out the Code 13, naturally our physicians
weren't crazy about the interruptions. But safety is a cornerstone of
our culture. After a while, it became clear the process was here to
stay. Now, everybody is used to our Code 13s, and you can feel the
atmosphere instantly change when we enter the room.
The simple act of giving people an anonymous way to speak up has
shown our staff that leadership has their back and ensures our team
feels supported to ask questions — regardless of whether they're right
or wrong — to make sure patient safety is always our top priority.
Sue Ellen Dalton, BSN, RN, CAPA
Novant Health Charlotte Outpatient Surgery
Charlotte, N.C.
sedalton@novanthealth.org