patient's identity by the name tag on his wrist, and all verbally state
confirmation. The nurse calls out the correct site and procedure, and
all again orally confirm. Active participation means not mindlessly
nodding so that they can get on with the case already. You want every-
one taking their positions around the bed and identifying themselves
by name (see "Embroidered Scrub Caps Make Close-Knit Teams" on
page 7).
How do you guarantee your staff participates with the surgical
time out? For starters, you must get their attention, which is difficult
to do during the busy few minutes before a procedure. Everyone
must stop what they're doing and be mindful, engaged and focused
on patient safety before the incision.
Colorful reminders certainly help, products like checklists, posters,
bags, stickers on syringes, hoods that cover the scalpel, reminder
sleeves on the Mayo stand, cloths placed over the instrument tray or
near the surgical site. For you do-it-yourselfers, here are a few more
creative ideas to get the team's attention:
7 4 • O U T PA T I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E • D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 8
