Make Time for Time Out on National Time Out Day

Surgery on the wrong patient or wrong body part is called a “never event,” because it is never supposed to happen. The reality is that wrong site surgery occurs often, and it is unacceptable. Wrong site surgeries occur an estimated 40 times a week — or five times a day — in the United States.

This year on National Time Out Day, June 8, The Joint Commission and the Association of Perioperative Registered Nurses (AORN) are calling attention to the importance of a surgical team taking a time out before a procedure begins to make sure all are on the same page about the right patient, right site and right procedure to prevent surgical error.

AORN has heard from members concerned that time outs in 2022 are being conducted hastily, likely because of surgical teams working through a backlog of operations postponed by the pandemic. This year’s theme, Make Time for Time Out, reminds us of the importance of taking a pause even when staff might be feeling rushed or overwhelmed.

To learn more about conducting a time out that can help reduce surgical error, The Joint Commission’s Universal Protocol outlines the steps to be included in a comprehensive time out. AORN’s Comprehensive Surgical Checklist enables individual facilities to meet The Joint Commission’s requirements and the World Health Organization’s standards while customizing the checklist according to surgical specialties.

Visit the National Time Out Day webpage for resources for organizations and healthcare changemakers.

Read the full statement.