NATIONAL TIME OUT DAY WAS JUNE 16
There's still time to make the commitment
Join the Time Out Commitment Campaign
Why are wrong-site surgery and other preventable mistakes still occurring in US operating rooms?
AORN members are committed to time out to verify correct person, procedure, and site but they report that not everyone on the surgical team is fully engaged, and they are uncertain about what they can do to encourage full participation.
With the support of the World Health Organization and The Joint Commission, AORN has assembled several tools and developed new resources to support our members' desire to champion the use of time out.
The Time Out Commitment Campaign -- June 16, National Time Out Day, reminds the entire surgical team how much Time Out matters to them and their patients. Together, as 40,000 voices of the OR, AORN members can make a difference in preventing wrong site, wrong procedure, wrong person surgeries in every facility across the U.S. when they commit to support time out for every patient, every time.
TOOLS & RESOURCES TO SUPPORT TIME OUT FOR EVERY PATIENT, EVERY TIME
National Time Out Day Event Planning -- Use the "I Commit" poster as the centerpiece for a signing event with your facility's surgical team(s). Invite your local newspaper or TV station to send a photographer to cover the event. You can also take pictures or videos of the poster and signing event for your facility's Web site. Your community will want to know what you're doing to support patient safety.
Commit to Support Time Out -- Add your name to the AORN Time Out Commitment campaign to increase awareness, collaboration and compliance. Join the campaign to help reduce surgical errors.
"I Commit" Poster -- Print this poster (it's 8 1/2" x 11"), sign it, date it, and tape it to your locker for everyone to see your commitment. Ask a friend, colleague or the entire surgical team to sign on with you to help prevent mistakes in the OR.
Recognizing the Human Factor -- the first person account of wrong site surgery, written by AORN president, Charlotte Guglielmi, RN, BSN, MA, CNOR. From Heart of the OR, the new AORN publication with real life stories from perioperative professionals —stories of growth, discovery, and innovation. Heart of the OR is on sale now.
National Press Release -- This release was sent to national media on June 9.
Advocate for Time Out -- Send a letter to elected officials about National Time Out Day and the vital role the tool has in reducing surgical error and improving quality patient outcomes.
AORN Correct Site Surgical Tool Kit -- The tool kit contains a variety of resources to educate health care providers about the Universal Protocol and to assist them with its implementation. Free to members.
AORN Comprehensive Surgical Checklist -- Use a single checklist that includes the safety checks outlined in the World Health Organization's (WHO) Surgical Safety Checklist, that also meets the safety checks within The Joint Commission’s Universal Protocol to meet accreditation requirements. It is useful in all facility types -- hospital ORs, ASCs and physician offices.
Surgical Safety Checklist with Script -- This checklist, provided by Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, demonstrates process and identifies the OR personnel responsible for each step.
The Joint Commission Universal Protocol
World Health Organization's Surgical Safety Checklist
OR Nurse Link -- AORN members can join the online member community of Time Out Champions to share their time out challenges and success stories in the OR. This conversation will begin on June 16, National Time Out Day, and be lead by AORN President, Charlotte Guglielmi, RN, BSN, MA, CNOR.
Video Examples of Time Out -- Click on the video below to scroll through several fine demonstrations of Time Out in the OR. These videos as a group demonstrate there are several ways in which we can use Time Out. They may give you some new approaches for the use of Time Out in your OR.