Debrief
Debriefing is an important
yet sometimes overlooked element
of patient safety. In reviewing the
surgical procedure that was just
performed, the OR team ensures
that counts are correct, notes any
specimens that were sent out and
brainstorms anything it could have
done better to make the case safer
and more efficient. Debriefing was the hardest section of the check-
list for us to score 100% compliance on, so we hung a sign on the
inside of the OR door that says KEEP CALM AND DEBRIEF. We also creat-
ed a debriefing form with the following checkboxes: equipment
issues, recovery concerns, instrument issues and other. The circulat-
ing nurse can note, for example, that scissors weren't sharp, the cam-
era wasn't working correctly or the patient was hypothermic. The
charge nurse receives the sheets from the day's cases, resolves what-
ever issues she can and passes the rest along to me, the director of
surgical services.
We track the issues brought to our attention on the debrief sheets,
noting which ones have been resolved and which we're still working
on, and post the status for each on a bulletin board at the surgical
department's front desk. We also present that info at department of
surgery meetings. Sharing the progress of addressing concerns raised
by the surgical team proves they're getting tangible results from their
efforts and keeps staff and surgeons invested in our efforts to main-
tain checklist compliance.
OSM
Ms. Geddings (jgeddings@kershawhealth.org) is director of surgical and
oncology services at Kershaw Health in Camden, S.C.
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J U N E 2 0 1 6 • O U T PA T I E N TS U R G E R Y. N E T • 3 9
The one scripted
line every
surgeon must say
before cutting:
"If anyone at
any time sees
something
abnormal during
this case, please
speak up."
