BEHIND THE CURTAIN We know what we'll find based on the color of the clip attached.

COLOR CODING
Binder Clips on Curtains Convey A Lot

We convey our patients' pre-op status by attaching different colored binder clips on their curtains. We almost never have cancellations, because our screenings are very thorough, but sometimes things come up at the last moment — like a problem with the IV or a high glucose reading. So we put red clips on the curtains of patients who have issues that need to be addressed. When they're good to go, a gold clip on the curtain means that patient is ready to be seen by the anesthesia provider. A blue clip means the surgeon has seen the patient. And when everything is done and the patient is ready for surgery, we show that with a green clip. It's a great and inexpensive way to communicate and to ensure great care. I got this idea from an ASC I visited as a surveyor — the PCET Surgery Center in Knoxville, Tenn. — and liked it so much, we now use the same procedure.

Sandy Berreth, RN, MS, CASC
Brainerd Lakes Surgery Center
Baxter, Minn.
[email protected]