Every system is perfectly designed to get the results it gets. — Paul Batalden, M.D. Introduction The surgical space is a high-risk environment where hazards lurk around every corner and for every patient. The patients who come to surgery are…
Why design matters? We have been designing hospital operating rooms (ORs) for nearly 300 years. One of the first such spaces was designed with seats so that observers at St Thomas Hospital in 1751 could watch and learn. Consequently, even…
Perioperative teams A well-functioning perioperative surgical team is central to achieving the quadruple aim. , Superior outcomes can only occur when surgical team members are well and engaged in the process of improved patient outcomes. Surgical high-performance results from a…
Introduction When a patient awakens from anesthesia after surgery, they usually look at their wound site to see how big the incisional bandage is. Usually, the patient and their family are relieved to hear that the operation was a success…
Introduction This chapter presents an overview of medication safety hazards and mitigation strategies during the perioperative period. The goal of the chapter is to aid surgical team members to better appreciate the complexity and mitigate the risks of the medication…
Glossary of terms AGA American Gastroenterological Association ANZCA Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists ASA American Society of Anesthesiologists ASGE American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy BIS Bispectral Index BMI Body mass index BPS Balanced propofol sedation CAD Coronary artery…
Preparation of the surgical patient begins with a consideration of all phases of surgical care when preparing a patient for surgery. Classic preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative phases should be on the mind of the surgeon when developing their recommended surgical…
Introduction Background and history Enhancing recovery after surgery has, of course, been the goal of surgeons since the beginning of surgery. It was not until the 1990s, however, that what we now refer to as “enhanced recovery after surgery” (ERAS)…
Defining human factors and ergonomics Human Factors/Ergonomics is the application of psychology and physiology for the purpose of designing products, processes, and systems with the purpose of increasing safety and comfort for the human that interacts within the product, process,…
Structured and effective communication is critical to a successful operation and perioperative care. It plays an essential role in facilitating teamwork. We define communication as the transfer of information from one person to another or to a group of individuals,…