Considerations When Implementing Case Tracking
By Mary Ellen Browne, RN

Clinicians and lay people who work in Perioperative and Surgical Services know that with the amount of specialization occurring in the workplace today, we sometimes remain absorbed in our specific areas and do not communicate as well as we might with our peers. Surgical Case Tracking helps to minimize or eliminate the negative consequences that a lack of communication may create. Accurate and thoughtful design of Case Tracking is imperative for a successful implementation.

Once the decision is made to implement case tracking, numerous decisions need to be made.

• What locations will have tracking boards?
• What size will the boards be?
• What information will be displayed on the board?
• If the family waiting room will have case tracking, how will information be displayed to protect patient privacy?
• Does Day Surgery need to display the same information as the Main OR?

All of these questions and more will need to be determined by consensus of the large team. Smaller subgroups or teams may meet to determine specific information for some areas, but that information should be communicated to the large team for final decision making.

Well designed and planned case tracking boards definitely improve communication within the Perioperative and Surgical Services area by displaying current, up to date information of patient progress and room status. This, in turn, will reduce the number of phone calls to check patient status, save staff time, and save employers money.

For more information about case tracking, contact us at 610-444-1233 or visit our website at www.getvitalized.com.