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A Deep Dive Into Surface Disinfection - October 2017 - Subscribe to Outpatient Surgery Magazine

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7. Know the route. "Some of the most catastrophic events occur when perfectly prepared medications are administered by the wrong route," says Dr. Wahr. She recalls when an epidural bupivacaine infu- sion intended to enter the epidural space at a low rate was mistaken for an antibiotic and administered to a pregnant woman. The baby was saved, but the mother died. Route-specific connecting systems — enter- al and near neuraxial — are now available to ensure medications are administered the correct way. "The best thing to do, as quickly as possi- ble, is to start using those unique infusion lines," says Dr. Wahr. Prevent defense Keep in mind that Mass General, a national leader in patient safety, had already implemented processes to improve medication delivery in the OR when the study took place. So it's safe to say medication error rates are probably at least as high at your facility. "There's definitely room for improvement in efforts to prevent peri- operative medication errors," says Dr. Nanji. "Identifying the types of errors that are being made allows for the development of targeted strategies to prevent them from happening." OSM O C T O B E R 2 0 1 7 • O U T PA T I E N TS U R G E R Y. N E T • 8 3

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