reportable events, also known as never events. Never
events are medical events that are seriously harmful, largely preventable,
and clearly identifiablemaking public accountability for these events necessary. Some of these events are horrifying mistakes, such as the amputation
of the wrong limb or the discharge of a baby to the wrong parents.
Why Tool Counts Are Vital to Your Health
So, why are surgeons required to count their tools before and after a procedure?
Because the leading never event is when a surgeon
leaves their tools inside the patients body.
When your surgeon leaves a surgical tool inside of youa sponge,
gauze, anything that isnt designed to remain in your bodythe
mistake is referred to as a "retained surgical item. These
are unambiguously preventable mistakes, so why are a dozen patients a
day ending surgery with harmful items left in their bodies?
How Often Retained Surgical Item Mishaps Occur
According to a report by USA Today, thousands of patients each year are
left with surgical items in their bodiesmostly sponges used to
soak up blood and fluid during surgery. Despite these mishaps occuring
on a regular basis, few hospitals have adopted technology that can all-but-eliminate
the risk of retained items.
Because of this negligence, many patients suffer for years before anyone
can discover the cause of their symptoms, which include crippling pain
and raging internal infections. Even once the cause of the problem is
determined, a retained surgical item can cause irreversible damage: some
patients with this injury will lose portions of their intestines, and
others may even die as a result.
While theres no way to determine the exact number of patients who
suffer because of retained surgical items, best estimates based on research
studies suggest between 4,500 and 6,000 patients are injured this way
annually. Federal reporting of these events is not mandatory, so exact
figures are difficult to find.
Healthcare professionals admit that these figures may be
lower than the actual rate. Retained sponges are often the most underreported incidents in healthcare,
despite the fact that it is already the most common never event. The hidden
nature of this issue is partially from a lack of accountability.
An Easy Fix for a Serious Problem
The figures alone are staggering, but whats far worse is that there
is an easy solution readily available that hospitals are choosing not
to use. Electronic tracking devices can be attached to sponges to eliminate
the risk of retained items. These sponge-tracking systems only add about
$8 to the cost of an operation, yet
fewer than 15% of American hospitals employ the technology. For patients who bear the brunt of these hospitals cost-cutting
decisions, the financial toll is almost as bad as the physical onehospitalizations
caused by retained surgical objects often cost more than $60,000. Hospitals
save patients and costs with better safety.
Manual Counting Is Not the Best Solution
Most hospitals forego sponge trackers in favor of sponge counts in order
to keep track of their gauzy pads during surgery. The system is simplecount
the number that go in; count the number that come out. However,
it also subject to human error, meaning patient safety may be affected by a tired or distracted surgical team.
By contrast, hospitals that use the electronic tracking systems say
they have not lost a single sponge since employing the technology. The average annual cost to a hospital for using the tracking system is
between $200,000 and $300,000, but the health benefits are well worth
the price.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v0yIfGsGB24
The medical injury attorneys at Arnold & Itkin believe those who suffer
retained surgical object injuries have the right to demand compensation
from their hospitals, who did not take the necessary steps to keep patients safe.
If youve been injured by negligent surgeons, call our firm at (88 cool
493-1629 for a
free consultation.
http://www.arnolditkin.com/Personal-Injury-Blog/2016/July/When-Your-Surgeon-Doesnt-Count-Their-Tools.aspx
