• reviewing required documents,
• discussing patient safety concerns,
• assessing preoperative vital signs and pain level,
• identifying cultural implications and the need for family presence, and
• verifying that all components of the surgical process have been followed correctly. This hand-off communication serves as a baseline for future clinical transfers and ensures that patients are safe, secure, and comfortable as they are brought to the OR suite. All subsequent actions are based on this hand-off communication.
Another component of the Universal Protocol is the surgical time out.11,12 Before starting any operative or invasive procedure, a final “time out” verification should be conducted to confirm the correct patient, procedure, and site. This time out should include ensuring that all relevant documentation, related information, and necessary equipment are available. Although the surgical time out is initiated by a designated member of the surgical team, all immediate members of the surgical team must participate in the time out, during which all other activities are suspended as much as possible without compromising patient safety. The procedure is not started until all questions and concerns have been addressed satisfactorily.
HAND-OFF COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE INTRAOPERATIVE AREA AND PHASE I PACU. In the past, the patient’s response to the surgical experience may have been noted in a routine report with little emphasis on specific surgical events. Hand-off communication during this transition of care often occurs when nursing staff members are performing several tasks simultaneously. Staff members should set aside time for hand-off communication, allowing opportunities to ask questions or to ask for clarifications