SRHS Adopts Innovative Surgical Safety Technology
Samaritan Regional Health System recently adopted a new depth of safety for surgical patients at Samaritan Hospital, becoming the area’s first hospital to add the Radio Frequency (RF) Surgical Detection System.
This patented and FDA-approved technology uses a scanning wand that detects and signals an alert if any radio frequency tagged surgical sponges remain in a patient following surgery.
Retained surgical objects are one of the leading patient safety concerns in U.S. hospitals and throughout the world. Published reports estimate they occur in one out of every 5,000 to 6,000 open cavity surgeries, making them the most frequent and costly of the "sentinel events"—medical errors that result in an unexpected death or a serious physical or psychological injury.
“By adding this extra layer of security to our patient safety practices, we are offering greater peace of mind to patients and their families,” Mary Neff, director of Samaritan’s Surgical Services explained. “This new technology clearly mitigates medical risks, and provides the entire surgical team with the assurance that no surgical sponge has been left behind.”
The RF Surgical Detection System consists of three components, the wand, a self-calibrating console and a micro RF (radio frequency) tag. The tags are embedded into a variety of surgical gauze, sponges and towels.
Before closing procedures, the wand is passed over the patient. An audible and visual alarm immediately signals the presence of any retained object fitted with a tag. The technology will not replace any other surgical procedure currently practiced in the OR, but will provide additional patient safety precautions.
According to Gary Blackbourn, VP of Marketing and Sales for RF Surgical Systems, Inc., the technology has been used in over 640,000 surgical procedures across the country.
“Several dozen near miss incidents have been reported to us where the system effectively prevented a dangerous medical error by alerting the OR team of the presence of a sponge still inside the patient,” Blackbourn said.
With over 500 different surgical procedures offered at Samaritan Hospital, the application of the RF Surgical Detection System will involve about 70% of these procedures, being utilized whenever surgical sponges are used. Figures estimate the surgery department will have performed 4,100 surgical procedures in 2009.
Implementation of this system directly addresses an ongoing commitment to safety. Over the years, SRHS’s highly acknowledged safety initiatives have molded the path for other organizations. In 1995, Samaritan Hospital became the first organization of its kind to earn the prestigious status of “Star Site,” a quality indicator of safety identified by OSHA’s Voluntary Protection Program.
Earlier this year, SRHS received accolades from Ohio Health over the creation of a “Sharps Review and Implementation to Safety Devices,” earning the PEAK Award in its inaugural year. PEAK stands for “Performance Excellence, Achievement and Knowledge.”
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