oral surgery, or a pro-
cedure in a mucosal
area or the perineum).
Mark un-markable
patients by affixing a
bright blue extremity
band near the site. On
the band, the attend-
ing physician writes
the procedure, side,
site and his initials.
• We're doing the left side, right? Rather than refer to "the right
side" or "the left side" when asking patients to confirm the correct
side and site for surgery, it's better instead to use "correct side" and
"correct site." Is there anything more confusing than asking a scared
patient, "We are doing the left side, right?"
OSM
4 6 • O U T PA T I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E • A P R I L 2 0 1 8
• BLUE SHIELD When patients can't be marked, a banded extremity verifies the
surgical site.
