National Time Out Day is June 14

Editor's Note

National Time Out Day, June 14, highlights the importance of taking a time out and increases awareness of safe practices that lead to optimal surgical patient outcomes.

The Joint Commission is partnering with AORN on National Time Out Day to ask every perioperative team member to be a SUPER HERO for patient safety.

The SUPER HERO acronym stands for:

• Support a safety culture
• Use the Joint Commission’s Universal Protocol and AORN Surgical Checklist
• Proactively reduce risk in the OR
• Effect change in your organization
• Reduce harm to patients

• Have frank discussions about hazardous situations
• Empower others to speak up when a patient is at-risk
• Respect others on the surgical team
• Openly seek opportunities for improving patient safety.

Tools and resources are available from the Joint Commission and AORN to support a safe, effective time out.

National Time Out Day is an annual awareness campaign created by AORN and supported by The Joint Commission for its ability to increase awareness of safe practices that lead to optimal outcomes for patients undergoing surgery and other invasive procedures.