Patient Safety Initiatives

APSF’s Perioperative Patient Safety Priorities

  1. Preventing, detecting, and mitigating clinical deterioration in the perioperative period

    1. Early warning systems in all perioperative patients
    2. Monitoring for patient deterioration
      1. Postoperative continuous monitoring on the hospital floor
      2. Opioid-induced ventilatory impairment and monitoring
      3. Early sepsis
    3. Early recognition and response to decompensating patient
  2. Safety in out-of-operating room locations such as endoscopy and interventional radiology suites

  3. Culture of safety: the importance of teamwork and promoting collegial personnel interactions to support patient safety

  4. Medication safety

    1. Drug effects
    2. Labeling issues
    3. Shortages
    4. Technology issues (e.g., barcoding, RFID)
    5. Processes for avoiding and detecting errors
  5. Perioperative delirium, cognitive dysfunction, and brain health

  6. Hospital-acquired infections and environmental microbial contamination and transmission

  7. Patient-related communication issues, handoffs, and transitions of care

  8. Airway management difficulties, skills, and equipment

  9. Cost-effective protocols and monitoring that have a positive impact on safety

  10. Integration of safety into process implementation and continuous improvement

  11. Anesthesia professionals and burnout

  12. Distractions in procedural areas