A Novel Prediction Tool for Overall Survival of Patients Living with Spinal Metastatic Disease. Innovating Health Care: Key Characteristics of Human-Centered Design, Development and Psychometric Properties of the Caring Behaviors Assessment Tool Nursing Version-Short Form, Hospital medication errors: a cross sectional study, The efficiency-thoroughness trade-off after implementation of electronic medication management: a qualitative study in pediatric oncology. WORLD FIRST: A new lung repair operation pioneered at Macquarie University Hospital is dramatically improving the quality of life of patients with chronic lung disease. Though exact figures are unavailable, studies estimate that RSI happens in 1 out of 5,500 surgeries Public health services in Victoria, Australia, 2010–2015. Hibbert said the Victorian numbers mirrored the pattern of incidents across most developed health systems around the world, including in NSW. One-quarter of left devices were related to post-surgical drain tubes, suggesting opportunities to improve their design and usage. Similarly, changes could be made to operating theatre set-up, for example in ensuring the whiteboard could be seen by all staff. In fact, thousands of these incidents, known as retained surgical items (RSI), happen every year when surgical materials are accidentally left inside a patient’s body. Associate Professor Peter Hibbert, from the Australian Institute of Health Innovation at Macquarie University, the research was based on analysis of 31 detailed investigations. However, the more severe issue contributing to retained surgical items is a lack of communication in the operating room, specifically in discussions prior to operation and pertaining to surgical counts, … Almost one-quarter of the retained surgical items were discovered on the day of the procedure. Associate Professor Peter Hibbert is a Program Manager at the Centre for Healthcare Resilience and Implementation Science, Australian Insititute of Health Innovation, Macquarie University. 11 In another report, a patient presented with a femur fracture from a retained surgical sponge near the bone. Researchers at Macquarie University may soon have some answers. All rights reserved. What happens when surgical tools are left inside a patient, Study probes 'parallel health crises' in Victoria, How children break their bones: a decade of data, Oil tanks, driving prices into uncharted territory, Centre for Healthcare Resilience and Implementation Science. “You’re analysing real events and that’s really useful,” says Hibbert, who conducts and teaches medical professionals how to correctly conduct these investigations. It furthers the University's objective of excellence in research, scholarship, and education by publishing worldwide, This PDF is available to Subscribers Only. Root cause analysis investigation reports can be a valuable means of characterizing infrequently occurring adverse events such as retained surgical items. However, about one-sixth (5/31) were only detected after 6 months, with the longest period being 18 months. Root cause analysis investigation reports can be a valuable means of characterizing infrequently occurring adverse events such as retained surgical items. Our research discoveries benefit the world we live in, with bold new solutions for national and global challenges. Fax: +61 2 9850 2499; Tel: +61 414253461; E-mail: Search for other works by this author on: © The Author(s) 2020.