10 Critically Important Labels for Surgical Centers

9/5/2024

Whether a patient requires a knee replacement, cataract surgery, or a colonoscopy, it’s very likely that the procedure will occur in an ambulatory surgery center (ASC). In fact, thanks to advances in surgical and anesthetic techniques, approximately two-thirds of all surgical procedures now occur in such outpatient settings, according to the American Society of Anesthesiologists. Considering how the number of procedures capable of being performed at an ASC is increasing — and with patients typically preferring the convenience of an outpatient scenario over a hospital setting — the number of treatments at ASCs is likely to increase going forward. 

As with all healthcare organizations, patient safety is a top priority in ASCs. However, as the type and number of procedures at surgical centers increase, the importance of patient-safety processes increases as well. From the time a patient is admitted until they are discharged, labels can play an essential role in reducing preventable errors. 

Essential labels for surgical centers

The following 10 types of labels will complement patient care processes that occur throughout an ASC:

1. Patient identification accuracy — Positive patient identification is an essential first step before the start of any procedure. Mistakes at this stage can impact everything from administering incorrect medications to performing the wrong procedures and more. Admission labels and wristbands also communicate such important information as allergies, fall risk, and other medical alerts.
2. Caregiver communication — Effective communication can have a profound impact on how patients perceive their care. Communication labels capture important information enabling the clinical staff to take quick, effective actions to enhance medical care and patient satisfaction.
3. Medication safety — Adverse drug events, often caused by medication errors, can be an issue at ASCs (just as it is in other healthcare settings). With general, local, monitored, and regional anesthesia among the most common types of medications administered, taking steps to prevent confusion, misidentification, dispensing errors, and overdosing is essential. Anesthesia drug labels can help prevent misidentification in these cases.
4. IV therapy — General anesthesia is typically administered through an IV. Labeling the IV with tubing labels that identify the dispensed medication minimizes the potential for errors. 
5. Surgery verification — Wrong site surgery and other errors can occur during surgical procedures. Using surgical time-out and preoperative checklist labels can ensure accurate patient identity and also verify the surgical site and the planned procedure.
6. Diagnostic testing errors — Although errors can occur in other areas, issues surrounding laboratory tests are the most common, according to a report from the ECRI Institute. Tracking all tests and consultations is key to minimizing this problem. Leveraging EHR data and barcoded lab labels that track tests back to the patient are effective prevention steps.
7. Opioid safety — Implementing opioid labeling and storage steps can help avoid their unintended use:
   • Segregate and differentiate opioid analgesics on storage shelves
   • Clearly label storage areas
   • Use opioid warning labels on medication containers to inform providers and patients
8. Sterile processing labels — As the number of procedures performed increases at an ASC, it’s not always easy to keep up with the demand for instruments or provide the necessary space for instrument reprocessing, two common causes of improper sterilization. Sterile labels detail sterilization and expiration dates on medical devices and distinguish cleaning protocols so the clinical team knows that instruments are safe and ready for patient use.
9. Infection prevention — Preventing infections takes ongoing diligence. Infection control labels placed in key locations throughout the ASC can increase awareness and emphasize the importance of taking proper precautions.
10. Medical device reliability — Equipment not operating properly increases patient wait times and can delay critical care. Inspection labels and equipment tags quickly let staff know if a device is out of service so an alternative can be identified and defined when equipment needs servicing. 

Emphasizing safety, minimizing risk    

While hospitals still handle more complex cases — which makes them more susceptible to adverse events — the number and types of procedures at ambulatory surgical centers is on the rise. As a result, patients at ambulatory surgery centers face certain risks, too. 

According to the ECRI Institute’s Patient Safety Organization report, the three primary patient safety risks in ambulatory care settings are diagnostic testing errors, medication events, and falls. For these three areas — and throughout the patient care spectrum — labels can help caregivers identify, verify, and communicate information that minimizes that risk.

The information presented in this blog was originally published by RRD’s United Ad Label, which understands the myriad challenges faced by today’s surgical centers. With those challenges in mind, United Ad Label has developed products that help ASCs enhance patient safety throughout the care spectrum, including stock and custom labels for specific needs.