Take a moment to ask the following questions to determine if you are “ready for anything”:
Difficult intubation
- What tools do we need in this situation for a successful patient outcome?
- Is someone available to assist an anesthesia provider that is struggling with an intubation?
- Do we have a difficult airway kit or cart? Is it checked regularly for inventory and outdates?
- Does everyone know where the cart/kit is (including PRN Staff and travelers)?
- Do we have an intubation scope available? Do we know how to clean it and prepare it for its next use?
Laparoscopic case to open procedure
- What tools do we need in this situation for a successful patient outcome?
- Do we have the appropriate instruments and retractors to proceed with an open case?
- We are opening a body cavity. Do we have count sheets available for all the instruments in the sterile field and the additional instruments being opened?
- Do we have adequate dressings for an incision of this size?
- Do we have a quick guide or cheat sheet to help our staff have the correct supplies and instruments? Have we practiced this scenario?
Anaphylactic reaction
- What tools do we need in this situation for a successful patient outcome?
- If we do not have IV access, do we have the supplies needed to inject subcutaneously or intramuscularly? Do we have IV start supplies accessible throughout the clinical space?
- Do we have the appropriate medications (epinephrine, antihistamines, etc.) available throughout the clinical space?
- Given that the majority of anaphylactic events are children 0-4 years old, do we have the supplies and medication dosages appropriate for pediatrics?
- Have we practiced this scenario?
These questions should act as the start of many discussions about clinical emergency preparedness. There are many other emergency situations that you could apply to these questions but the point is still the same: “Be prepared” — at least that is what my Boy Scout leader always told me.
Daren Smith RN is the director of clinical services for Surgical Management Professionals, an organization of physicians and healthcare executives who have created a successful model for ambulatory surgical centers and physician owned surgical hospitals that embrace the concept of physician ownership and clinical leadership.
Read more from SMP:
– 6 Best Practices for a Successful Surgery Center Infection Control Program
– 6 Ways to Save Money on Supplies in a Surgery Center
