Reducing Error in the Operating Room

Surgical error is responsible for an estimated one out of every four recorded medical errors, taking thousands of lives and costing patients and insurers approximately $1.5 billion annually. Clinicians at every point in their careers are vulnerable to committing surgical errors, with most occurring in routine operations with experienced surgeons and nurses. In technically demanding surgeries in particular, studies show an estimated three major safety-compromising events occur in each case. Most of these errors that cause patient harm occur as a result of multiple individual events, spanning multiple phases of care, and involve multiple clinicians.

Fortunately, an estimated 54–74% of surgically-related adverse events are preventable. The aim of this course is to help clinicians reduce surgical error by building awareness of the most common types of errors and the conditions under which they occur. The course also helps clinicians identify flawed systems that create error-prone environments and provides practical guidelines for eliminating common errors, such as preoperative checklists and postsurgical material inventories. Clinicians who complete this course will be able to do the following:

Identify the primary issues with technical error in surgery and how they lead to adverse events.
Learn the 15 common procedures that account for the majority of adverse events, and understand the errors that trigger them.
Identify the factors that contribute to complexity and/or systems failures.
Comprehend and explain the benefits of applying systems theory in the context of surgery.
Discuss possible interventions to combat technical error.

Course Applicability

This course is targeted to surgeons, perioperative nurses, and residents.

Course Accreditation

This educational activity is designated for a maximum 2 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™

This course activity is designated for a maximum of 2 nursing contact hours.*

*This continuing nursing education activity was approved by the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses, Inc., an accredited approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Centers Commission on Accreditation. Activities that are approved by AORN are recognized as continuing education for registered nurses. This recognition does not imply that AORN or the ANCC Commission on Accreditation approves or endorses any product included in the presentation.

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