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Need Surgery?

Make Sure You are Safe as Possible

American health care saves millions of lives through treatment and surgery.
However, when things go wrong the effect can be devastating and expensive.

Each year in the United States


about

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patients develop an infection at their surgical site1

Each year in the United States


about

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patients accidentally get cut or have a hole poked in an organ that was not part of the surgery2

Surgery patients are {{getMeasureValue("INF-GRPH-NAT-04", 0)}} times more likely to die
when a surgical mistake happens.

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The good news is that doctors, nurses, and hospitals are improving patient safety, especially for surgery.

Many hospitals have very good surgical safety ratings, but others don’t.

Everyone can do better.

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Mistakes happen during surgery even in {{report.regionName}}!
In one year3, in our own backyard:

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patients had a surgical tool accidentally left in their body4

In

{{getMeasureValue("PSI 06", 0)}}%

of surgeries, the surgeon accidentally made a hole in the patient’s lung5

In

{{getMeasureValue("PSI 15", 0)}}%

of surgeries, an organ that was not part of the surgery was cut or punctured accidentally6

In

{{getMeasureValue("PSI 14", 0)}}%

of surgeries, the surgical wound on the patient’s stomach or pelvic area split open7

{{getMeasureValue("PSI 16", 0)}}

patients had unexpected reactions to blood transfusions8

All of us need to know how often surgical problems happen and if things are getting better.

Fortunately, doctors and nurses know what should be done before, during and after surgery to prevent problems9.

For example:

  • Certain types of antibiotics should be given to the patient an hour before surgery, then stopped within 24 hours after surgery.
  • The patient’s temperature should be kept warm and stable.
  • To prevent blood clots, special ‘pressure’ socks should be used to keep blood flowing in the patient’s legs. And the foot of the patient’s bed should be raised.
  • If a catheter was required to help empty a patient's bladder, it should be removed within two days after surgery.
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Many hospitals take these steps with every surgery patient. But some don’t, and that puts patients at risk.

How safe is the surgery for patients in {{report.regionName}}10

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received an antibiotic at the right time before surgery11

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were given the right kind of antibiotic before surgery12

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had body temperatures managed during and after surgery13

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received treatments to prevent blood clots after surgery14

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who needed a catheter during their procedure had it removed within two days after surgery15

Tips to Be as Safe as Possible Before, During and After Surgery

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Do Your Homework

  • Understand there are ways to keep patients safe during surgery, and these actions should be taken with every patient, for every surgery
  • Know the safe surgery ratings for your hospital – visit {{report.siteName}}
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Talk About Your Safety

  • Take a copy of this list (and your hospital’s ratings) to talk with your doctor about what to expect when you have surgery
  • Ask your doctor to use the World Health Organization Safe Surgery Checklist16 which is proven to reduce the risk of death and complications from surgery17
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Have a Team on Your Side

  • Bring someone with you to ask questions and listen when you see your doctor or are in the hospital
  • If people are not paying attention to your concerns, talk to the hospital’s patient advocate service – their job is to help you.
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All hospitals are not the same.

Some are better overall, some are not so good.

Some do well in some areas of care but not in others.

Find hospitals that perform best in the areas you care about.

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