NATIONAL "TIME OUT" DAY - JUNE 20, 2007

Wrong-site surgery and other preventable mistakes still occur too frequently in U.S. operating rooms. That’s why the American College of Surgeons (ACS) and The Joint Commission are partnering with AORN on its annual National Time Out Day observance on June 20. It will be the fourth consecutive year AORN has sponsored this event to highlight The Joint Commission’s mandated “time out” to verify the correct patient, correct procedure, and correct site before any surgery begins. (View Campaign Poster)

“Partnering on National Time Out Day from our surgical and accreditation partners symbolizes the collective effort required by every member of the surgical team to practice a time out and ensure correct patient, correct procedure, and correct site every time,” said AORN President Mary Jo Steiert, RN, BSN, CNOR.

"The American College of Surgeons views National Time Out Day as an important event for the entire surgical care team," said ACS Executive Director Thomas R. Russell, MD, FACS. "This is an important patient safety initiative that reminds all members of the operating room team about the importance of maintaining clear communication as they review the case of the patient before them and during the actual surgical procedure," he continued. "The day reinforces the good practice of overall clear communication, which should always be part of a surgical team's routine. It is one of our best safety tools for preventing medical errors, and we encourage all surgeons to take the lead in serving as facilitators in this process."

Speaking for The Joint Commission, Senior Vice President Paul Schyve, MD, said, “What happens in the perioperative environment is very complex, and complexity increases the risk of error. That’s why a time out that identifies a mistake in identifying the correct patient, the correct procedure, or the correct site before the error reaches the patient is so important for patient safety. National Time Out Day is a reminder that a time out should take place before every surgery.”

A time out is the last in a series of steps established in 2003 as part of The Joint Commission’s Universal Protocol for Preventing Wrong Site, Wrong Procedure, Wrong Person SurgeryTM.

Surgical teams across the United States are encouraged to participate in National Time Out Day. AORN, ACS, and The Joint Commission offer online resources for participation in this event to increase awareness that a time out must occur before every surgical procedure. For further details visit: www.aorn.org.