minutes of arrival and every 15 minutes there-
after for at least an hour. Temperature assess-
ments should continue every hour until dis-
charge or until the patient reaches an acceptable
post-anesthesia recovery score and is ready to
head home.
Warming trend
The only way to ensure staff's compliance with
any new policy is through adequate training and
education. Don't forget about informing patients
about the importance of active warming proto-
cols. A simple explanation of why pre-warming
is important is an effective way to gain accept-
ance from the patient.
When I first came to my facility, our colorec-
tal SSI rates were a negative outlier compared
with other facilities in our state. Now, we're an outlier in the positive direction and
our rates are well below the state's average. Patient warming was a big part of that
reversal.
Your ultimate responsibility is to ensure patients achieve the best possible out-
comes. If you don't have a standardized patient warming protocol in place that
includes active prewarming, that responsibility isn't being met.
OSM
M A R C H 2 0 2 0 • O U T PA T I E N T S U R G E R Y. N E T • 9 3
• HEAT CHECK Prewarmed blankets may make your
patients feel warm and comfortable, but the heat
they give off lasts for only a matter of minutes and
doesn't impact core body temperature.
Dr. Volpe (aav9002@nyp.org) is the director of surgical outcomes, research and
education for the department of surgery at NewYork-Presbyterian Queens
Hospital in Flushing, N.Y.
