Children's Health

How will hospital staff make sure my child has a safe surgery?

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Intermountain Healthcare answered:
The following are what the hospital staff will do to keep your child safe during surgery:
- Your child will have an ID band or "bracelet" on his wrist or ankle so that everyone knows his name. The nurses and doctors will check your child's "bracelet" to identify him before they start the procedure or surgery.
- To further protect your child's safety, you will receive a code or ID band with your child's information. That way, the hospital staff knows that you are your child's parent.
- For most surgeries, the person performing the procedure or surgery will mark the part of the body where the procedure or surgery will be performed. They will involve you and your child when marking the body part when possible. The site will be checked again before the procedure or surgery.
- Everyone (nurses, doctors, and other caregivers) who cares for your child will work to prevent surgical site infection by washing his or her hands before the procedure or surgery. A caregiver may use clippers to cut hair where the surgery will take place. Also, surgical staff wear special gowns, gloves, hair covers, and masks to keep the surgery area clean. The site of your child's surgery is cleaned with a special soap that kills germs, and, possibly, your child will receive antibiotics before the surgery starts.
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The following are what the hospital staff will do to keep your child safe during surgery: Your child will have an ID band or "bracelet" on his wrist or ankle so that everyone knows his name. The nurses and doctors will check your child's... More
Hospital Safety Score answered:
Hospital staff will do the following to ensure your child has a safe surgery:
- Hospital staff will review the procedure in the OR prior to the beginning of the surgery. It is valuable for them to find out who will be in the room, what their role is and, exactly what is supposed to be done to your child. They might use a checklist—similar to what pilots use when flying—to make sure everything they need is present and ready, as well as anything they might need just in case.
- Your staff will make sure you are informed about what is happening to your child. You should get information on the surgery ahead of time so you can ask good questions and share concerns if you have them. If you do not receive this material, ask for it.
- The surgeon will “sign the site”—the part of your child’s body that will be operated on. Ideally, this will happen while you are in the room with your child before surgery. This will help everyone be clear that the right part be operated on. The only mark should be on the part being operated on, and nowhere else on the body.
- The care team will invite you to stay with your child until he/she falls asleep.
- The hospital emphasizes the need for all equipment to be sterile prior to use.
- The hospital emphasizes the need for all care team members to completely wash their hands and wear the right gowns and clothing to minimize infection.
- The anesthesiologist will ensure that all the anesthesiology equipment in the operating room is in working condition prior to the start of surgery.
- The nurses will make sure that all medications are appropriately prepared and labeled for use during your child’s surgery.
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More Related Answers from Hospital Safety Score
Hospital staff will do the following to ensure your child has a safe surgery: Hospital staff will review the procedure in the OR prior to the beginning of the surgery. It is valuable for them to find out who will be in the room, what their... More