View our Fire Saftey Video now!
Drug-Induced Muscle Weakness in the Postoperative Period/Survey Responses
Advanced Medical Technology Training Consensus Conference
Request for Proposals to Study the Implementation and Performance of the APSF Safety Checklist
Safety Scientist Career Development Award-Call for Applications
APSF Announces Grant Awards for January 2013
Conclusions and Recommendations-Conference on Electronic Monitoring Strategies
Announcements
Anesthesia Patient Safety Update September 2011
Conclusions and Recommendations from the June 08, 2011 conference, Essential Monitoring Strategies to Detect Clinically Significant Drug- Induced Respiratory Depression in the Postoperative Period
APSF believes that clinically significant drug-induced respiratory depression (oxygenation and/or ventilation) in the postoperative period remains a serious patient safety risk that continues to be associated with significant morbidity and mortality since it was first addressed by APSF in 2006. With this background, APSF sponsored its second one-day conference on this topic bringing together 136 stakeholders from diverse backgrounds (physicians, nurses, industry representatives, family representatives, pharmacists, hospital administrators, insurers, regulators) to address electronic monitoring strategies. The Conclusions and Recommendations from this conference are posted on the APSF website (www.apsf.org). The report of the conference is published in the Fall 2011 issue of the APSF Newsletter.
Operating Room Fire Safety Video-Educational DVD
More than 3000 requests for the complimentary fire safety DVDs have been received since the video became available in April 2010. The FDA has noted the availability of this video in its publications. APSF plans to survey recipients to evaluate how the video has been utilized and if it has altered practice, especially with respect to use of supplemental oxygen. APSF believes the risk of operating room fires in operations about the head, neck and upper body would be greatly reduced by avoiding high oxygen concentrations in the surgical area. The fire safety video details steps to take to minimize this risk. The fire safety video is available by request on the APSF website (www.apsf.org).
Medication Safety in the Operating Room-Educational DVD
APSF is preparing an education video based on the STPC paradigm developed at the January 26, 2010 consensus conference with a full report in the Spring 2010 APSF Newsletter (www.apsf.org). The product is expected to be available in January 2012 and may be requested online on a complimentary basis for educational purposes.
APSF Board of Directors Workshop, Current Anesthesia Patient Safety Issues-Help Set the Priorities for Immediate Short-Term Resolution (Saturday, October 15, 2011, McCormick Place Convention Center, Chicago, IL)
APSF has identified patient safety issues that may offer the opportunity to address as solvable problems in the short-term. The goal of this Board of Directors Workshop is to prioritize solvable patient safety issues and develop a strategy for reducing their incidence. An audience response system will be utilized to develop safety priorities based on the speaker's presentations. Visit the APSF website (www.apsf.org) for further information. All ASA attendees are welcome and pre-registration is not necessary.
Patient Safety Investigator Career Development Award-Request for Applications
APSF is soliciting applications for training grants ($150,000.00 over 2 years) to develop the next generation of safety scientists. The award application is available on the APSF website with a deadline of December 31, 2011 (www.apsf.org).
Ellison C. Pierce, Jr., MD Patient Safety Memorial Lecture
Beginning in 2012, a memorial named patient safety lecture will become part of the annual meeting of the American Society of Anesthesiologists.
Please direct comments or questions to stoelting@apsf.org