June 2003

Standard of Care Should Be Based on Convincing Evidence

June 10, 2003

To the Editor Two exchanges appeared in the letters section of the Winter 2002-2003 issue, one regarding perioperative beta-blockade and another on ultrasound facilitation of jugular vein cannulation.1-4 They contained...

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American Hospital Association Solicits Applications for American Hospital Quest for Quality Prize

June 10, 2003

The American Hospital Quest for Quality Prize is an American Hospital Association award honoring leadership and innovation in patient care quality, safety, and commitment. It is supported by grants from...

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United Kingdom Furthers Safety Agenda

June 10, 2003

Within the United Kingdom (UK), unintended harm to patients occurs in around 10% of admissions or at a rate of an estimated 850,000 events a year, costing the National Health...

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Modern Anesthesia Machines Offer New Safety Features

June 10, 2003

Sources of Morbidity and Mortality From Conventional Machines In 1997, Caplan documented the causes of death and brain damage related to anesthesia gas delivery equipment.1 Of 3,791 closed anesthesia claims...

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Wrong Site Surgery Summit Plans Universal Protocol

June 10, 2003

Joint Commission Resources, Inc., a subsidiary of JCAHO, has announced the results of the proceedings of a recent Wrong Site Surgery Summit, which was held on May 9, 2003. The...

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POVL Registry Reports Preliminary DATA

June 10, 2003

Postoperative visual loss is one of the most catastrophic and unexpected complications that patients can experience. It can occur after almost any type of surgery (e.g., spine surgery, prostatectomy, peripheral...

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SARS Threatens Safety

June 10, 2003

Editor’s Note: Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) presents unique safety challenges to anesthesia providers and OR and ICU personnel. The following article provides important information gained from firsthand experience. We...

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March 2003

Checklists Cover Critical Details

March 10, 2003

To the Editor The practice of anesthesiology contains dynamics and complexity similar to that found in the aviation industry. Meticulous preparation, constant monitoring and frequent adjustments, temporally precise execution of...

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Future Possibilities in Central Venous Cannulation with Ultrasound Guidance

March 10, 2003

To the Editor We read with interest the recent discussion about the application of portable ultrasound in facilitating central venous cannulation (CVC).1,2 This discussion has centered around whether portable ultrasound...

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Transesophageal Pacing: Possible Solution to Excessive Beta Blockade

March 10, 2003

To the Editor I have followed this exchange of opinions with great interest, aware that most likely those raising issues with beta blockade as a “standard of care” are influenced...

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HRO Has Prominent History

March 10, 2003

Research into and management of organizational errors has its social science roots in human factors, psychology, and sociology. The human factors movement began during World War II and was aimed...

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Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation Grant

March 10, 2003

Announcement New Emphasis Placed on Innovations in Education & Training The Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation (APSF) Grant Program supports research directed toward enhancing anesthesia patient safety. Its major objective is...

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Complex OR Environment Ripe for HRO Approach

March 10, 2003

Organizations that consistently operate under very challenging conditions and manage to minimize the impact of unexpected events are referred to as high reliability organizations (HROs). There is no room for...

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Stanford-VA Palo Alto Survey Examines Health Care Workers’ Attitudes Toward Safety

March 10, 2003

If the corporate scandals of 2002 teach anything, it is that corporate culture plays a powerful role in determining the actions of employees. In this regard, culture in health care...

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“Smart Pump” Technology Reduces Errors

March 10, 2003

Adverse drug events are known to be the single leading cause of medical injuries.1 Medication errors related to intravenous (IV) infusion present the greatest potential for harm. In a study...

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Chlorhexidine Prep Decreases Catheter-Related Infections

March 10, 2003

Optimal skin preparation and aseptic technique are imperative during insertion of central venous (CVP) and other invasive catheters to minimize the risk of catheter-related bloodstream infections (CRBSI), a major cause...

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Special Issue: Safety First: Ensuring Quality Care in the Intensely Productive Environment – The HRO Model

March 10, 2003

A High Reliability Organization (HRO) repeatedly accomplishes its mission while avoiding catastrophic events, despite significant hazards, dynamic tasks, time constraints, and complex technologies. Examples include civilian and military aviation. We...

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December 2002

Data Dictionary Task Force Unveils DATAMS

December 10, 2002

New Software Compares Anesthesia-Related Data Sets The Data Dictionary Task Force (DDTF), chaired by Dr. Terri Monk of the University of Florida-Gainesville, and under the technical direction of Dr. Iain...

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Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation Grant Program

December 10, 2002

The Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation (APSF) Grant Program supports research directed towards enhancing anesthesia patient safety. Its major objective is to stimulate studies leading to prevention of mortality and morbidity...

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Advancing Age/Deeper Anesthesia Associated with Increased Mortality

December 10, 2002

Dr. Craig Weldon and colleagues from the University of Florida presented a thought provoking abstract at the ASA meeting, held this past October in Orlando. They recorded BIS monitor data...

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