What is your OR Time OUT consist of??

Where I work... time outs lately have been a HUGE issue it's been crazy nuts!!!!!!!
First the patient comes in the room and we ask them to identify themselves and what they are going to have done
After the patient is draped and ready we have to make sure EVERYBODY is looking directly at me and the time out consists of
Patient Name
Date of birth and age
Type of surgery and what side
Is the site marked?
What kind of antibiotic and if it was given
If the patient received any beta blockers or anticoagulants
What position the patient is in
If the prep is dry
Allergies
Any safety measures taken depending on patient history
Are the correct x-rays or images up
Blood products (are they available)
What kind of implants are being used and if they are available in the room
Do we have all the correct instruments/trays
Any questions/comments?

On top of that we have to write down the time we did the time out on our OR record.... plus fill out another whole sheet checking off every aspect of the time out as mentioned above.... plus write who was in the room at the time

Is your OR manager mentally ill?

LMAO!!! Don't get me wrong.... I do like my manager however the whole place is going crazy nuts over this whole universal protocol thing and Joint Commission and it's getting most of us confused on what to do and what not to do... things are changing all the time.... I just think some things are going a little too overboard to make sure we are doing everything "perfectly".... like the whole new flashing policy we were discussing earlier ...

The OR I worked in had the circulating nurse run the time out which consisted of stating the patient's name, reading word for word the procedure as written on the consent form the patient/legal guardian signed, verifying the correct side of the body the surgery will be on, stating the patient's allergies, stating if the patient received any pre-op antibiotics/or if they are currently receiving antibiotics, and stating what family members are waiting for them. The surgeon(s), surgical tech(s), surgical assistant(s), nurse(s), anesthesiologist(s), and really anyone in the operating room suite should all verbally agree that the stated information is accurate before incision is to begin. JCAHO standards are even starting to require that the time out includes whether or not implants will be going into the patient and even what surgical position the patient is in.

In my OR, as soon as the patient enters the room I introduce the patient to whom ever is in at the time ask the patient to say out loud the procedure he is having done and the side. Our time out is very basic, consists of patient's name, procedure and side being done and allergies. We do a final check before the surgeon cuts.

I like the idea about hiding the knife.............

<Ha ha, in my last hospital..the nurse would announce the time out and some docs would try to talk over you. They did this to me one day, so I very loudly announced...


I'M NOT WEARING A BRA TODAY!!!!!

Silence fell, and I said "Now that I have your attention, we have Mr Smith, who is having a right hernia repair....">

Love it! Maybe I'll try that. Of course, as a guy, I'd probably get more attention if I told them I WAS wearing a bra...

OK, so I did a case with a surgeon on Friday. He just had been to the surgery department meeting. He walks in and tells me thathe is supposed to be doing the time outs. Not us. Head of surgery told him they have to do it and state what the patient is allergic too.

That is interesting. Never heard that one, must be unique to your facility. We just follow JACHO rules. It is hard enough to get them to mark the site let alone get THEM to do the time out? Good luck.

I have also hid the scapel!

Actually, the place I'm at now..the surgeon initiates the time out as well. I was used to doing it, because in my previous place, the circulator did it.(see my "bra" story on the previous page) I went to do it in this place and the surgeon made it very clear that the docs had to do them.

Fortunately, the chief surgeon of my specialty has made it clear to the surgeons that time outs, IDs and marking of the site have to be done, no arguments. If not, they can get written up and disciplined.

I am looking for another position to get involved in at my facility. We have a circ position open now so doing some investigating regarding circ'ing. I personally have experience with a bad 'time out.' Had my left eye operated on instead of the right! Yes, TIME OUT IS IMPORTANTE!!!!!