November 1, 2009
Preventing retained surgical item: What role does technology play?
A patient needs major surgery to remove 5 laparotomy sponges left behind during a previous case. The investigation finds that during an exploratory laparotomy, the circulating nurse introduced a 5-pack of sponges into the sterile field but did not enter the count on the worksheet or white board. Relief staff were not aware of the extra 5 sponges, and the count later appeared correct. The incident is 1 of 6 retained-item cases that resulted in $25,000 fines for California hospitals in September 2009.
Free Daily News
- Study: COVID-19's impact on oncological surgery offers lessons for future crises
- Study links pandemic stress to persistent increases in nursing-sensitive quality indicators
- Save the date for the 2025 OR Business Management Conference
- Study: Education, exercise improve knee OA with or without prior surgery
- Study: Early surgery outperforms endoscopy for long-term pancreatitis
- Study: Blood thinner, NSAID combination raises bleeding risk
- Hospital financial report predicts stability, high cybersecurity costs for 2025
- IV fluid shortage drives innovation in hospital hydration practices
- FDA Class 1 recalls target anesthesia workstations, ambulatory infusion pumps, ventilators
- Five leadership lessons from an ASC CEO
© Access Intelligence, LLC. All rights reserved. |
Privacy Policy |
Cookie Settings |
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging |
Accessibility Statement