The Kimberly-Clark Knowledge Network Offers Course on Implementation of JCAHOs Universal Protocol

ROSWELL, Ga. --  Increasing patient safety by identifying the causes of errors during surgery is the outcome that the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) expects through the proper implementation of its Universal Protocol for Preventing Wrong Site, Wrong Procedure, Wrong Person Surgery. 

A clear understanding of this issue as well as the proactive measures needed to reduce the risk of surgical error is essential for today's healthcare professional.  For that reason, Kimberly-Clark offers an accredited, speaker-facilitated Knowledge Network* session titled "Surgical Site Verification: Preventing Wrong Site, Wrong Procedure, Wrong Person Surgery" that addresses:

-- The contributing factors associated with wrong site, wrong procedure, wrong person surgery and the measures to prevent these errors

-- Actions to be taken if a surgical error occurs

-- Essential ongoing activities to prevent errors

"Preventing wrong-site surgery is a patient safety imperative and Kimberly-Clark supports the principal components of JCAHO's Universal Protocol," said Jay Sommers, PhD, Kimberly-Clark's director of clinical and scientific documentation. "In our course, we show how, in less than 12 minutes, an OR team can run through the five necessary steps of surgical error prevention which include: ensuring that the consent form is completed, marking the surgical site, verifying patient identification, taking a time out immediately before surgery, and verifying the imaging data."

Effective July 1, 2004, all JCAHO-accredited hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers and office-based surgery facilities are required to adopt the Universal Protocol. This valuable session from Kimberly-Clark yields 1.2 continuing education contact hours. 

"Professional associations do a great job of promoting the importance of timely issues such as JCAHO'S Universal Precautions; AORN's National Time Out Day on June 23, 2004 was a perfect example of how they've united the industry to work toward a common goal," said Sommers.  "Knowledge Network* supports their efforts by providing another venue for the information necessary to ensure proper implementation.  At the end of the day, our efforts will prove successful when we see an increase in patient safety."

Kimberly-Clark Knowledge Network* is a dynamic educational resource designed to provide insight and information on critical healthcare issues.  In addition to facilitated, on-site educational sessions, other Knowledge Network* educational offerings include:

-- K-C representative facilitated - Education Video and Study Guide Programs

-- K-C representative facilitated - Excellence In Sterile Processing Series

-- Conferences such as the Georgetown University Healthcare Leadership Institute and the Conference on Infectious Diseases

To learn more about "Surgical Site Verification: Preventing Wrong Site, Wrong Procedure, Wrong Person Surgery," contact your Kimberly-Clark sales representative or call (800) KC-HELPS.  For more information about Knowledge Network*, visit www.kchealthcare.com and click on Knowledge Network*. 

Source: Kimberly-Clark Health Care