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The other side of the stethoscope

By Shawna Strickland posted 12-23-2014 08:09

  
Today, I am accompanying a loved one to the hospital for a surgical procedure. This isn't the first time I've been in this position and I'm betting it isn't a new phenomenon for most RTs out there. This time, however, I'm a little more cognizant of what's going on around me and what's going on at the hospital.

Yesterday, I accompanied my loved one to the pre-op evaluations. After attending an AAMI opioid/respiratory depression conference in November and then AARC Congress 2014 in Las Vegas, where I listened to the keynote session about patient safety, and talking with Mrs. LaChance about her experiences, I was more invested in the pre-op process for my loved one. Could I trust this facility to care appropriately for my loved one? Would they monitor him appropriately?

First, we visited the pre-op paperwork and basic health evaluation station. The evaluator was thorough and patient with us. A former surgical nurse, she had the OR experience to ask us about things that we hadn't considered before. It was nice to see that she was critically thinking about potential consequences and anticipating issues before they occurred. I was starting to feel better about this facility.

The next stop was the most surprising. We thought we'd go right to the lab for pre-op blood work but our nurse from the first station told us we'd be going to talk with "our respiratory therapist." That peaked my interest. Not mentioning that I am an RT (or where I work!), we went to see Jim, the RRT. Turns out that Jim is also an RPSGT and he was there to talk with us about the potential for undiagnosed OSA and the risks associated with sedation. This session lasted about 10-15 minutes, during which Jim asked questions about sleep habits, measured my loved one's neck, and explained in very understandable terms why he was asking these questions. He then made sure to outline the patient safety steps this facility takes for each patient headed to the OR. When we were finished, my loved ones were able to talk about OSA and why Jim took the time to explain it. As we were leaving, I introduced myself as an RT and Jim and I shared stories about our experiences. I asked Jim how long this facility had been doing these screenings and he told me over three and a half years. I was amazed...and thrilled. I asked if their outcomes had improved; they had. I asked if the RT had been instrumental in the process; they had. In fact, Jim's entire position is to screen folks at pre-op at several hospitals within the system.

As I wait (still nervously) for my loved one to come out of surgery and come home with us for the holiday, I find myself sending a few prayers of thanks for the diligence this facility (system, actually) demonstrates for patient safety. We've heard the stories from the families whose loved ones did not have a good outcome and it is good to experience a hospital system that takes that seriously. Thank you, Southern Illinois Healthcare.

Happy holidays to you all and thank you for your commitment to excellent patient care and patient safety. You make a difference.

If you are interested in patient safety, I encourage you to join the (free) AARC Patient Safety Roundtable on AARConnect. I also encourage you to watch Mrs. LaChance's YouTube video about her experiences, if you have not already viewed it:
http://youtu.be/dH9agqZRdXw

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