Project is aimed at improving patient safety during surgery

Two consumer advocacy groups have joined with the Surgical Care Improvement Project (SCIP) to improve patient safety during surgery and increase communication between patients and their caregivers.

SCIP said it is working to prevent complication in four areas that comprise 40% of the most common complications after major inpatient surgery: infection, blood clots, and adverse cardiac and respiratory events. The goal is to use evidence-based measures to reduce preventable surgical complications nationwide by 25% by 2010, according to SCIP, which is collaborating on the project with the National Partnership for Women and Families and the American Association of Retired Persons.

A patient tip sheet provides specific questions patients can ask their physicians and nurses before surgery to ensure they are receiving care that will reduce their risk of complications.

“Consumers and patients need information that will help them become active partners in their care,” said John Rother of AARP. “SCIP supports improvement not only for hospitals and doctors, but for patients as well by giving them practical and actionable guidance that will contribute to the likelihood of better surgical outcomes.”