What is the purpose of calling a "Time Out" before surgery?

What is the purpose of calling a "Time Out" before surgery?

• A. To review patient history
• B. To verify surgical site and procedure
• C. To discuss the anesthesia plan
• D. To finalize the surgical schedule

Answer: (B)

The purpose of calling a "Time Out" before surgery is to verify the surgical site and procedure. This critical safety protocol is implemented to prevent wrong-site surgeries, wrong procedures, or procedures performed on the wrong patient. During the Time Out, the surgical team confirms key details, such as the patient's identity, the specific procedure to be performed, and the correct surgical site. By having this structured communication before the operation begins, the team ensures that everyone is in agreement and aware of what needs to be done, significantly enhancing patient safety and improving surgical outcomes. In contrast, while reviewing patient history, discussing the anesthesia plan, and finalizing the surgical schedule are important components of the overall surgical process, they do not specifically address the central focus of the Time Out. The emphasis is solely on confirming the specifics that directly pertain to the surgery being performed, which is why verifying the surgical site and procedure is the correct answer in this context.

The purpose of calling a "Time Out" before surgery is to verify the surgical site and procedure. This critical safety protocol is implemented to prevent wrong-site surgeries, wrong procedures, or procedures performed on the wrong patient. During the Time Out, the surgical team confirms key details, such as the patient's identity, the specific procedure to be performed, and the correct surgical site. By having this structured communication before the operation begins, the team ensures that everyone is in agreement and aware of what needs to be done, significantly enhancing patient safety and improving surgical outcomes.

In contrast, while reviewing patient history, discussing the anesthesia plan, and finalizing the surgical schedule are important components of the overall surgical process, they do not specifically address the central focus of the Time Out. The emphasis is solely on confirming the specifics that directly pertain to the surgery being performed, which is why verifying the surgical site and procedure is the correct answer in this context.