National Time Out Day is observed to emphasize the importance of performing a surgical "time out" before every procedure. It encourages surgical teams to pause and verify the right patient, right procedure, and right site—an important step in preventing wrong-site surgeries. This serves to ensure all healthcare professionals are mindful of patient safety. The Joint Commission’s Universal Protocol also reinforces this practice, ensuring that every member of the surgical team is engaged in this final safety check before an incision.
Surgical time-out procedures are critical for ensuring patient safety and preventing wrong-site surgeries.
Here are some best practices to follow:
Standardized Time-Out Process
- Conduct the time-out immediately prior to incision.
- Utilize a standardized checklist to ensure all key elements are covered. Many organizations have them laminated and displayed on clipboards, while others have larger versions on the wall.
- Ensure all activity ceases during the time-out so the team can focus. This includes anesthesia providers, radiology technicians, residents, student nurses, surveyors, and others.
Team Participation
- The entire surgical team must be present and actively engaged, including the surgeon, anesthesiologist, circulating nurse, and surgical technician.
- There needs to be verbal confirmation of the patient’s identity, procedure, and surgical site.
Communication
- A designated team member (often the circulating nurse or surgeon) should initiate the time-out.
- Empowere staff members to speak up if they notice discrepancies. This is part of your culture of safety.
- Leadership should support staff in enforcing compliance and addressing concerns.
Site Marking/Verification
- The procedure site should be marked as close to the actual site as possible.
- Use radiographic imaging if the site is not visible.
- The patient and licensed independent practitioner should confirm the procedure and mark the body part being operated on prior to entering the Operating Room.
Documentation
- Document the completion of the time-out, including any concerns raised and resolved in the medical record.
- Conduct periodic audits to ensure compliance and identify areas for improvement.
An average time out can take anywhere from 30 seconds to two minutes. To the surgical team, this can seem like a lifetime, but it’s critical that the time out be thorough and have a clear purpose, or it can devolve into a meaningless task.
Please contact us for questions or more information at 704-573-4535 or info@courtemanche-assocs.com.
Courtemanche & Associates specializes in Healthcare Accreditation and Regulatory Compliance Consulting Services. With over 30 years of being in business and 100+ years of healthcare experience amongst our consulting team, we are ready to assist with your accreditation and regulatory compliance needs.
