Hospital mistakes cited in wrong-knee surgery
NBC 10
The state releases its findings on errors leading to a wrong-knee surgery at The Miriam Hospital.
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The Associated Press
Published: October 10, 2008
PROVIDENCE—The Rhode Island Health Department has found that a surgical team that operated on the wrong knee of a patient at The Miriam Hospital failed to visually verify which knee needed the procedure.
The mistake occurred Sept. 19 during a knee arthroscopy, a procedure in which doctors insert a pencil-sized camera into the knee to diagnose what’s wrong.
The surgeon realized the mistake after the surgery and then operated on the correct knee.
The hospital has signed a consent agreement calling for it to change pens used to mark the surgery site.
It also has agreed to fix several problems related to “time-outs,” the period just before the surgery begins when hospital staff verify the correct patient and surgical site.
To view the full consent agreement Click Here
The Rhode Island Department of Health reminds patients to review surgery plans and consent forms with surgeons before undergoing any type of surgery or procedure.
More patient safety tips can be found on the Joint Commission’s Web site.
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