To eliminate wrong site surgery, marking the site and taking a time out are part of the new patient safety standards. Our members would like to know what others are doing.
This survey was answered by 216 members from 43 different states and one foreign country.
- At your facility, who does the marking?
- Registered Nurse (RN) 58%
- Surgeon/Fellow/Resident 22%
- We don’t mark 3%
- Other 17%
The “other” category included (in descending order of frequency):
- Technician or LVN
- RN, LVN, or Technician
- Patient or patient with RN
- Anesthesiologist
- Receptionist
- What type of mark is made?
- An X 30%
- Yes/No 11%
- Initials of surgeon 5%
- Initials of person marking 4%
- Check mark 1%
- Other 49%
The “other” category included (in descending order of frequency):
- Stickers/Tape
- Dots (various colors)
- R or L
- Arrow
- Triangle/Star/Square
- Y or C or S
- Eye shield over non-operative eye
- Patient’s name
- Whatever patient wants
- The surgical procedure
- What is used to mark?
- Surgical skin marker 61%
- Commercial sticker 21%
- Tape 4%
- Ball point pen 2%
- Other 12%
The “other” category included (in descending order of frequency):
- Sharpie/permanent marker
- Shield
- Stamper
- Tattoo/tattoo-like material
- Crayola marker
- When is the time out/final verification performed?
- Before the eye prep 44%
- Before the incision 29%
- Before the block (if one is used) 25%
- Not performed 2%
- What best describes your practice setting:
- Community hospital/surgery center 80%
- University hospital 20%