NMCP Staff Recommits to Patient Safety on National Time Out Day

PORTSMOUTH, Va. (NNS) -- Naval Medical Center Portsmouth staff in departments throughout the medical center and at area branch health clinics and dental clinics took a time out June 12 to rededicate themselves to patient safety on National Time Out Day.

In 2004, the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses, while supported by The Joint Commission, established National Time Out Day to stress the importance of surgical team time outs, where, as a standard safety precaution, the health care team verbally confirms they have the correct patient, procedure and site/side identified before beginning the procedure, as well as the correct medication to administer during the procedure.

"This annual practice is a powerful tool that supports health care team members' roles as patient advocates with the emphasis on speaking up for safe practices," said Cmdr. Rebecca Kiser, NMCP patient safety officer. "We must protect our patients."

NMCP's main operating room staff has always participated in the national day, but this year, staff from every department who is involved in invasive procedures took the time out: each department held Time Out training and staff signed a poster in a re-affirmation of the Time Out pledge.

"Errors that do occur usually happen in clinics and dental - areas outside of the operating room, so it's important to highlight this day for everyone," said John Cherry, NMCP patient safety specialist. "It's important for anyone who is performing procedures, even in Radiology, to take the time out."

According to Cherry, prior to 2009, there was an occasional minor incidence of wrong procedure or wrong site at NMCP.

"But since then, we have had no cases because of a more vigilant climate of patient safety," Cherry added."

In the main operating room, more than 40 from the unit signed the pledge poster initially, with another dozen signing during a later shift. One of the 40 was surgical technician Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Tramaine Brown, the unit's education petty officer.

"This is an important reminder so we don't get complacent," Brown said. "It's important to ensure we don't have a miscommunication, which taking the time out alleviates that. Because of the potential for a mishap, we must take that extra step."

"It's a time to think, a time to get on the same page," interjected Hospitalman Tyler Duncan, a surgical tech who has been with NMCP for three months.

"Yes, we always have to make sure we have the right patient, the right surgical site and the right medication," added HN Jonathan Pangburn, who has also been at NMCP since March.

At every level of care given at NMCP, from the most junior hospital corpsman to the most seasoned physician, the steps taken around the Time Out promote a culture of safety to eliminate preventable patient harm by engaging, educating and equipping patient-care teams to institute these proven safe practices.

For more news from Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, visit www.navy.mil/local/NMCP/.