Outpatient Surgery Magazine

Get Patients to Pay Up - May 2015 - Subscribe to Outpatient Surgery Magazine

Outpatient Surgery Magazine, providing current information on Surgical Services, Surgical Facility Administration, Outpatient Surgery News and Trends, OR Excellence and more.

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1 5 2 O U T P A T I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E O N L I N E | M A Y 2 0 1 5 Run Down Fire Risk Before Every Case Fires are preventable if the OR team is aware of the risks. T he estimated 550 to 650 surgical fires that occur each year are entirely preventable, but there's no national standard that requires surgical teams to discuss fire risks before every patient is taken to the operating room. Until there is, take the lead by having your pre-op nurs- es assess patients' fire risks using the following 5-point questionnaire, with 1 point assigned to each "yes" answer: 1. Is an alcohol-based skin antiseptic or other flammable solution being used pre-operatively? ____ 2. Is the procedure being performed above the xiphoid process or in the oropharynx? ____ 3. Is open oxygen or nitrous oxide being administered? ____ 4. Is an electrosurgical unit, laser or fiber-optic light being used? ____ 5. Are there other possible contributors, such as drills, saws and burrs? ____ S A F E T Y Troy Thurmond, RN, BSN, MSN Troy Thurmond, RN, BSN z HALLWAY HUDDLE Chief of Anesthesia Brad Williams, MD, Assistant Nurse Manager Jessica Haury, RN, BSN, and Chief of Surgery Mark Homra, MD, discuss fire risks before patients are brought back to the OR.

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