194 - Count von Count. A count board reducing noise and confusion while improving safety!

Description: ABSTRACT



ABSTRACT TITLE: Count Boards Improve Communication, Enhance OR Safety.



Description of team. The team included every member of the operating room Allied health team. We elicited input from circulating RNs. RN First Assists, Physician Assistants and Surgical Technologists.

Preparation and planning. The purpose of the team was to prevent the retention of foreign bodies left unintentionally in patients after surgery. When counting at the end of surgery the surgical team suffers many interruptions. In hopes of improving communication among the OR team a discussion ensued. The concept of a board that everyone could always see would make communication faster and more accurate. The board concept was endorsed by the manager and presented to all the stakeholders involved as both brainstorming and buy-in.



The unit practice council conducted a literature search and queried their local AORN chapter by posing questions for potential strategies from their certified peers. The group researched such options, ordered a count board to trial with the staff. A life-sized mockup of a count board was created and displayed in the lounge for all to peruse and offer comments and suggestions. The result was a collegial approach to the development of the count board, adding comprehensive ideas and dimensions to the count process

Assessment. Prior to implementing the count board, we took a survey of everyone in the operating room regarding safety of the surgical count and communication. Once we implemented the count, we repeated the survey for one week after implementing the Count Board, then again at two months and six months. These were compiled into a graph and presented to the staff.

Implementation. The OR team agreed that adding the count boards would enhance safety. Count boards were placed, and the new practice began. The OR staff were surveyed regarding the level of comfort and safety in the count process. The survey further supported our shared decision-making process impacting this new change in nursing practice. The OR Unit Practice Council was also updating the count policy. Based on feedback from necessary elements. Since using the count boards there have been no retained objects and staff satisfaction in the process is favorable.

Outcome. Since the implementation of the count boards and the change in policy, no retained materials have occurred, and staff satisfaction has been extremely favorable. This process fostered a collective empowered and communicative approach to ensure that no patient will suffer from a retained object.

Implications for perioperative nursing. The implications here for patient safety are obvious, improved communication has resulted in no retained objects. Furthermore, the collaborative nature of this project has the staff discussing other ways to improve safety and workflow knowing that process will make positive change by working together.