RI Hospitals to Adopt New Surgical Protocol Aimed at Reducing Errors

The AP reports that "All 14 hospitals in Rhode Island have agreed to adopt a uniform set of precautions to prevent surgeons from operating on the wrong body part or committing other grievous errors." Under the new protocol, hospitals will have "two licensed providers mark the place on the patient where the operation is to occur and" surgeons will be required "to mark the spot with their initials and use a checklist before surgeries." These procedures are aimed at helping physicians "who work at multiple hospitals reduce the potential for operating on the wrong part of the patient or other mistakes." Officials began developing "the protocol...18 months ago, before several wrong-site surgeries at Rhode Island hospitals occurred," Jean Marie Rocha, vice president of clinical affairs for the Hospital Association of Rhode Island, said.