Hand-Off Communication: A Requisite for Perioperative ... - AORN

NOVEMBER 2008, VOL 88, NO 5Amato-Vealey — Barba — Vealey/0/09_NPSG_General_Presentation.ppt#312,51,UniversalProtocol. Accessed September 18, 2008.12. Accreditation Program. Hospital NationalPatient Safety Goals UP.01.03.01. The Joint Commission.http://www.jointcommission.org/NR/rdonlyres/31666E86-E7F4-423E-9BE8-F05BD1CB0AA8/0/HAP_NPSG.pdf. Accessed September 18, 2008.RESOURCESBeyea SC. The National Patient Safety Goals:a focus for action [Patient Safety First]. AORN J.2006;84(3):485-488.Carr DD. Case managers optimize patient safetyby facilitating effective care transitions. Prof CaseManage. 2007;12(2):70-82.Catalano K, Fickenscher K. Complying with the2008 National Patient Safety Goals. AORN J. 2008;87(3):547-556.Crum Gregory BS. Standardizing hand-offprocesses. AORN J. 2006;84(6):1059-1061.Knapp C. American Hospital Association-McKessonquest for quality prize. Bronson Methodist Hospital:journey to excellence in quality and safety. Joint CommJ Qual Patient Saf. 2006;32(10):556-563.Mikos K. Monitoring handoffs for standardization.Nurs Manage. 2007;38(12):16-20.Nemeth CP, O’Connor M, Nunnally M, KlockPA, Cook RI. Distributing cognition: how hand-offcommunication actually works. Department ofAnesthesia and Critical Care, University of Chicago,IL. http://ctlab.protectedsite.net/documents/ASA2005%20Handoffs%20POSTER.pdf. Accessed September2, 2008.Patterson ES, Roth EM, Woods DD, Chow R,Gomes JO. Handoff strategies in settings with highconsequences for failure: lessons for health care operations.Int J Qual Health Care. 2004;16(2):125-132.Sandlin D. Improving patient safety by implementinga standardized and consistent approachto hand-off communication. J Perianesth Nurs. 2007;22(4):289-292.Elaine J. Amato-Vealey, PhD, RN, is a nursemanager at Women & Infants’ Hospital, Providence,RI. Dr Amato-Vealey has no declared affiliationthat could be perceived as a potential conflictof interest in publishing this article.Marianne P. Barba, MS, RN, is a facultymember at the University of MassachusettsDartmouth College of Nursing, North Dartmouth.Ms Barba has no declared affiliationthat could be perceived as a potential conflict ofinterest in publishing this article.Ryan J. Vealey, BS, is a medical student III atthe University of Vermont College of Medicine,Burlington. Mr Vealey has no declared affiliationthat could be perceived as a potential conflictof interest in publishing this article.Pine Bark Extract May Reduce Menstrual PainTaking a French maritime pine bark extract mayreduce symptoms of dysmenorrhea, a conditionthat causes extremely painful menstruation, accordingto a June 18, 2008, news release fromNatural Health Science, Inc, Hoboken, New Jersey.Research showed that women taking the extracthad less painful menstrual periods and took fewernonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)than women taking placebo.The double-blind study, conducted in Japan, included116 women ages 18 to 48 years. The womenkept a diary throughout the six-cycle study to notepain levels and NSAID usage. For the first two cycles,the women did not receive any treatment; for thesecond two cycles, they were randomly assigned toreceive either pine bark extract or placebo; and forthe final two cycles, they discontinued treatment.Analysis showed the number of painful days decreasedfrom an average of 2.1 days prior to treatmentto 1.3 days with pine bark treatment. Whentreatment was discontinued, pain did not immediatelyreturn and NSAID usage did not increase.Dysmenorrhea is believed to be caused by elevatedlevels of inflammation. The pine bark extract wasstudied for alleviating symptoms of menstrual painbecause of its natural anti-inflammatory properties.New study: pine bark significantly reduces menstrual pain[news release]. Hoboken, NJ: Natural Health Science, Inc;June 18, 2008.770 • AORN JOURNAL