Certified Professional in Patient Safety (CPPS) Practice Exam

Which action item demonstrates the highest level of reliability following a wrong-side surgery event?

1. Change the color of surgical site markers.

2. Have the surgical technician hold the scalpel until the timeout.

3. Educate surgeons about surgical timeouts.

4. Perform multidisciplinary simulations monthly.

The correct answer is: Have the surgical technician hold the scalpel until the timeout.

The action item that demonstrates the highest level of reliability following a wrong-side surgery event involves having the surgical technician hold the scalpel until the timeout. This specific measure directly addresses a critical juncture before the procedure begins, reinforcing the importance of the timeout process, which is designed to prevent errors such as wrong-site surgeries. Holding the scalpel until the timeout ensures that no incisions are made before all necessary checks and confirmations are completed. This practice helps to create a deliberate pause that necessitates verification of patient identity, surgical site, and planned procedure. This action fosters a culture of safety and accountability, emphasizing the importance of multi-faceted communication among surgical team members. In contrast, changing the color of surgical site markers, while a potential improvement, does not directly impact the behavior of the surgical team during critical moments before the procedure. Educating surgeons about surgical timeouts can enhance awareness and knowledge but does not ensure adherence to safe practices in real time. Finally, performing multidisciplinary simulations monthly is beneficial for team preparedness; however, if these simulations do not translate into immediate practice changes during real operations, their effectiveness may be limited. By having the scalpel held until after the timeout, the surgical team prioritizes patient safety at that moment, ensuring maximum reliability in