In the intraoperative phase of care, there are further opportunities to continue the interdisciplinary communication triad. As in all phases of care, standardized communication tools may be used, including a time out. A time-out procedure continues to be a component of the Universal Protocol and a mainstay of The Joint Commission’s 2015 National Patient Safety Goals.21 In a literature review on implementing the Universal Protocol, findings indicated an array of themes surrounding the state of knowledge on the topic and its link to the occurrence of wrong-site, wrong-person, and wrong-procedure operations.38 The authors of the literature review organized their findings according to gaps, areas of concern, and significant trends; they concluded that implementation of the Universal Protocol differs from facility to facility.38 A time out may be used as a stand-alone formal procedure or as part of a larger surgical checklist. For example, team members in one facility implemented the use of dry erase boards labeled with specific time-out elements.39 Anecdotally, team members reported improved communication and access to information.39 In a seminal study on the use of a time out within the larger context of a surgical safety checklist, results showed a reduction in postoperative complications and death rates (from 1.5% to 0.8%; P = .033) in patients at least 16 years of age undergoing noncardiac surgery.40
The postoperative phase completes the perioperative triad process in the transfer of patient care information. An ongoing evaluation and stabilization of the patient occurs in this phase, and it is essential that the perioperative nurse provide a comprehensive report to the receiving nurse in the postoperative setting. Essential patient issues to communicate during this phase of transfer may include
• surgical procedure performed and presence or absence of any complications;
• surgeon and anesthesia care provider orders;
• vital signs, hemodynamic status, and information about the surgical site;
• type of anesthesia;
• administered IV fluids; and
• family/significant other information.
As in any phase of perioperative care, patient acuity, specific quality measures, identified safety risks, and real-time changes in patient status will factor into which type and the amount of information that needs to be conveyed. Regardless of the tool or phase, the intent is to promote effective communication, agile workflows, teamwork, and optimal care.