Success Stories

Reduction in Incidences of Retained Objects from Surgery

In a major academic medical center in Texas, we worked with the Medical Director, the Chief Nursing Officer, the Dean of Medicine, the Executive Director, and the Senior Director of Outcomes and Performance Improvement.
One of their goals was to reduce incidences of retained objects from surgery. Lack of communication and teamwork between the physicians and nurses led to increased errors, including four incidences of retained objects from surgery in 7 months.
Recognizing the need for improved quality of care, the hospital contracted with LifeWings to provide a series of customized, on-site training seminars and safety tools workshops. Lifewings was able to create specific safety tools based on the skills taught in classroom to allow for better teamwork and effective communication. By improving communication, team building skills, and creating more reliable systems in the operating room, the hospital was able to reach their goal.
To date, the hospital was able to reduce their incidences of retained objects from surgery by 75%.