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A U G U S T 2 0 1 5 | O U T P AT 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
the key-holder next to the reception desk, and placed the numbered
key tags on it.
When patients check in, we give them a key tag and tell them to give
it to their family member or driver when they go back for surgery. The
front desk writes the number of the key tag on both the patient's chart
and next to the patient's name on our ride list at the reception desk.
We call out the number when it's time for the patient to go back for
surgery, and again after the patient is in PACU, when the family can
go back to recovery or go fetch the car. The system is a cheap but
effective way to protect patient privacy, and is much easier to learn
than high-tech paging systems.
Linda W. Frix, RN, BSN, CAPA
Northern Virginia Surgery Center
Fairfax, Va.
lfrix@fairoakssc.com
U S I N G Y O U R N O O D L E
Cover the Tops of Stretcher Side Rails
W
e found that pediatric
safety pads didn't com-
pletely cover the tops of
the side rails on stretchers, especially
when we had a restless patient. Our
solution: pool noodles. Simply cut a
slit along the length of a noodle and
push it over the side rail.
Suzanne Whitenite, BSN, RN
Turk's Head Surgery Center
West Chester, Pa.
whitenite71@comcast.net
z PATIENT SAFETY Pool noodles fit snugly
over the top of the side rail on your stretchers.
Patti
Glassey,
BSN,
RN,
CAPA
