Consumer advocacy groups AARP and the National Partnership for Women and Families have collaborated with the Surgical Care Improvement Project to develop a patient tip sheet that provides specific questions patients can ask their physicians and nurses before surgery to ensure they are receiving care that will reduce their risk of having complications. Steps to Safer Surgery prompts patients to ask providers about the length of time antibiotics will be given before and after surgery, what precautions will be taken to prevent blood clots, and whether other medications the patient is taking will increase risks for heart attacks.
SCIP is working to prevent complications in four areas that constitute 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. The SCIP partnership includes such groups as the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, American College of Surgeons, American Hospital Association, the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, and CMS.
