Failing to follow time-out policy costs anesthesiology practice
Ambulatory Safety Monitor, June 8, 2006
Want to receive articles like this one in your inbox? Subscribe to Ambulatory Safety Monitor!
A St. Louis County jury recently awarded a patient who had arthroscopic surgery performed on the wrong knee $175,000 in a malpractice case against an anesthesiology practice, according to Missouri Lawyers Weekly.
The surgery was incorrectly performed on the right knee despite black markings on the patient's left knee to indicate the correct surgery site. The patient pursued the case based on claims that personnel in the room failed to follow an internal time-out policy to verify the correct body part and side of the body before surgery.
Although the patient reached confidential settlements with the surgeon who performed the incorrect surgery and the ambulatory surgery center (ASC), she proceded to trial against the anesthesiology practice, arguing that the time-out policy applied to all surgical staff, including the anesthesia personnel.
Want to receive articles like this one in your inbox? Subscribe to Ambulatory Safety Monitor!
Related Products
-
Hospital Safety Center
Improve compliance with hospital safety standards from The Joint Commission, OSHA, and other regulators with this...
-
Healthcare Life Safety Compliance
Learn Life Safety Code tips and interpretations for healthcare facilities with this in-depth monthly resource.
-
Hospital Safety Connection
Stay on top of hospital safety requirements and best practices with our free, fast-paced weekly update.
-
Emergency Management Alert
Subscribe to this FREE weekly e-mail newsletter specifically for emergency planning professionals
-
OSHA Watch
This bi-monthly newsletter gives you the information you need to help you manage your entire OSHA compliance program.
Most Popular
- Articles
-
- Q/A: Billing telemetry daily monitoring
- Credentialing monthly: What is the role of the credentials committee in addressing unprofessional conduct?
- 2010 ICD-9 code updates now available online
- Master modifiers to ensure accurate reimbursement
- H1N1 hits Maine facility
- Radiologist indicted for fraudulently signing reports
- Don’t be scared into silence: Affiliation letter safeguards allow you to disclose more
- National Quality Forum creates standardized set of data for electronic health records
- New report reveals $47 billion in Medicare fraud
- Understand the H1N1 Flu and how to code it
- E-mailed
-
- Credentialing monthly: What is the role of the credentials committee in addressing unprofessional conduct?
- Q/A: Billing telemetry daily monitoring
- H1N1 hits Maine facility
- New report reveals $47 billion in Medicare fraud
- Radiologist indicted for fraudulently signing reports
- Revised MS.1.20 'huge improvement', out for comment again
- Briefings on Outpatient Rehab Reimbursement and Regulations, December 2009
- Hand hygiene rates improved through variety of reinforcement styles
- Press Ganey report: Patient satisfaction increasing across the country
- Residency Program Alert, December 2009
- Searched