On-site Clinical Risk Comprehensive Assessment: Surgical Services
Efforts to improve surgical care represent an important opportunity
for performance measurement and reporting in healthcare. Approximately
42 million surgical procedures are performed annually in the United
States, and as many as 40 percent of them result in surgical complications.
One study found that postoperative complications resulted in up
to 22 percent of preventable deaths among patients, depending on
the complication. Increased workload and competing tasks pose the
greatest threats to patient safety in the operating room.
Historically, surgical complications were thought to be unavoidable
an accepted risk of the practice. The lack of effective systemization
makes it difficult for healthcare professionals to consistently
provide the highest levels of care in the surgical and post-surgical
arena. In an effort to provide an integrated, systematic, and standardized
approach to reduce surgical complications, Clinical Risk Solutions,
Inc. provides on-site comprehensive clinical risk assessments--a
proven methodology to achieve a patient safety-centered model of
excellence.
Following a pre-assessment telephonic leadership interview, a two-day, on-site assessment is conducted. A prioritized plan of improvement,
resource tool kit, and educational sessions are included within
the scope of the initiative.
The Surgical Services on-site assessment includes a review of the following areas:
- Physician profile, department leadership, committee structure,
patient safety culture, documentation, and communication
- Surgical services administrative structure
- Nursing profile, licensing, orientation, competency validation,
and ongoing education
- Patient safety culture, adverse event management, and quality
initiatives
- Medical staff credentialing, peer review, and performance evaluation
- Preoperative, operative, postoperative, and discharge of the
surgical patient
- Medical record clinical documentation
- Select policy reviewinformed consent, Universal Protocol,
sponge count, medical error management, medical staff disruptive
behavior, blood administration, and needle count
- OR interface with: Diagnostic Imaging, Laboratory, ED, OB,
and ICU
- Clinical practices, policies, and procedures
- Structured communication handoff process
- Adverse event management process, data analysis, professional
liability claims review
- Quality/patient safety initiatives
- Medication safety management, pharmacy interface, and regulatory
oversight
- Medical equipment management
- Environment of Care standard compliance
- Infection control program
- Security management
- Written comprehensive report with a prioritized plan of improvement
- Tool kit of resource materials
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