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E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 0 • O U T P A T I E N T S U R G E R Y . N E T • 2 5
flowsheet staff use to direct patients
to needed follow-up care after dis-
charge. "Mental health touches us all
in some way," says Ms. Turner. "Even
though we work in a surgery center,
we have a duty to care for our
patients holistically.
"When we tell our patients we'll
always be by their side, we take that
promise seriously," she continues.
"Patients are placing their lives in our
hands, and we're their voice when
they're unable to speak. At the end of
the day, we always fall back on ICARE
standards. We care for each other,
ourselves and our patients."
— Dan Cook
BADGES OF HONOR All staff wear ICARE tags to remind them-
selves of the principles that guide their actions.
Tabitha
Turner,
RN,
MSN,
CNOR,
CGRN
• Due diligence. The hospitals' standardized poli-
cies and procedures are reviewed and updated
annually to ensure staff always follow evidence-
based practices, and AORN guidelines are posted
on the health system's intranet for staff to access.
Members of the anesthesia and surgical teams con-
duct daily huddles at the beginning of each shift and
again in the afternoon near the end of the day. They
review the schedule, add-on cases, staffing and
equipment needs, and discuss potential patient safe-
ty concerns that demand special attention through-
out the day.
