Approximately 50 professional societies and associations, as well as selected interest groups, participated in The Joint Commission’s Summit on Wrong Site Surgery on February 23, 2007 at The Joint Commission’s headquarters in Oakbrook Terrace, IL. The summit was a revisitation of the original 2003 conference on this subject, which that led to the creation of The Joint Commission’s Universal Protocol for the Prevention of Wrong Site, Wrong Procedure, Wrong Person Surgery™.
Despite the subsequent implementation of the Universal Protocol and its endorsement by the leading surgical and nursing associations and other health care leadership organizations, wrong site surgery persists as a significant patient safety problem. The summit reviewed experience to date with the Universal Protocol, examined the barriers to achieving consistent compliance with the performance expectations set forth in the Universal Protocol, and explored potential strategies for eliminating wrong site surgery.
The consensus of the summit was that the Universal Protocol is reasonable and effective if properly implemented and followed consistently. Participants also agreed that the protocol needs to be expanded and enhanced, and supported a “zero tolerance” policy for improper use of the protocol. The Joint Commission will be drafting a document that will first be reviewed by the summit co-conveners and participants prior to review by the field. The Joint Commission hosted the Summit in collaboration with the American Medical Association, the American Hospital Association, the American College of Physicians, the American College of Surgeons, the American Dental Association, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, the Association of Operating Room Nurses, and Partnership for Patient Safety.