1090 - No More Left Behind: The Countdown to Safer Surgeries Starts Here

Overview/Abstract: Unintentionally retained surgical items (RSIs) remain a persistent and preventable threat to patient safety in the operating room. Despite decades of awareness and procedural safeguards, RSIs continue to occur, underscoring the need for a transformative approach. —but what if the key to solving it isn’t just better counting, but bold culture change? This presentation unveils a fresh, frontline-driven approach to tackling RSIs by transforming those closest to the problem into the driving force behind the solution. We will introduce a novel strategy that shifts the paradigm: empowering frontline staff as agents of change through active engagement in quality improvement (QI).

Rather than relying solely on traditional top-down mandates or procedural checklists, this approach places those closest to the work—nurses and surgical technologists, —at the center of innovation. By equipping them with QI tools, fostering a culture of curiosity, and creating platforms for their voices to be heard, we are building a sustainable path toward zero RSIs.

We will introduce practical strategies to empower the frontline not just in addressing the accounting process, but across countless other areas where the opportunity for improvement is present. These innovative strategies are designed to be scalable and adaptable offering a framework that can be applied to a wide range of safety and quality initiatives beyond RSI prevention.

The presentation will explore:
• Limitations of traditional RSI prevention methods and effective, transformative approaches to eliminate RSIs.
• Strategies to engage and empower frontline staff in quality improvement initiatives
• Unveil a dynamic, scalable framework that transforms frontline staff into innovation leaders by equipping them with QI tools, fostering a culture of curiosity, and amplifying their voices.
•Success stories and lessons learned from our "Count Taskforce" initiatives, including:
• Count von Count, our engaging mascot
• Count von Count’s Corner Articles
• The Count's Carnival
• The Count's Virtual Suggestion Box

This presentation will illuminate how a grassroots, QI-empowered approach can extend far beyond the counting process to address systemic vulnerabilities and foster lasting cultural change. Join us on our journey to zero RSIs—where the frontline leads the way.