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Joint Commission project aims to reduce wrong-surgery risk

NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Feb. 27, 2012

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The quality improvement arm of the Joint Commission unveiled a tool to help physicians and hospitals spot one of 29 problems that can lead to an incorrect procedure. The commission's Center for Transforming Healthcare tested the safety tool at eight U.S. hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers.

The facilities using the tool cut the risks of wrong-site procedures by 63% in pre-op, 51% in the operating room and 46% in the scheduling area. Because wrong-site surgeries are so rare, the risks of such procedures -- rather than their occurrence -- was measured for quality-improvement purposes. The new strategy is meant to be used in addition to the pre-op verification, site-marking and time-out process known as the universal protocol. More information about the tool is available at the center's website (link).

Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2012/02/27/prbf0227.htm.

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