Reducing Liability from Retained Surgical Sponges: Get to ZERO; Here’s How To Do It

Home » Reducing Liability from Retained Surgical Sponges: Get to ZERO; Here’s How To Do It

Presented By: Paul Preston, M.D.
September 2018

Following up on March’s presentation on the Small Miscellaneous Items (SMIs) and Unretrieved Device Fragments (UDFs) we are now looking at the RSI that unequivocally causes the most patient harm – Retained Surgical Sponges. Information from hospitals that have worked with the NoThing Left Behind® Surgical Safety Project to Prevent RSI, has led to the development of multi-stakeholder practices and communication strategies to prevent retained sponges. Nurses and surgeons can reduce their liability with the consistent use of safety practices that extend beyond “counting” and “sweeping”. This presentation will also include a discussion of technological devices.

Objectives:

  • Define the reasons retained sponges occur – it’s not what you think!
  • Outline multi-stakeholder practice and communication strategies for prevention of retained sponges
  • Gather implementation materials to change practice at any site
  • Reduce liability from provider error and reduce patient harm

WHO SHOULD WATCH

Your entire healthcare team will benefit from this session so please be sure to tune in.

INQUIRES

For OR inquiries, please contact Joann Wortham at (818)545-3343 or Joann.Wortham@betahg.com.

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