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Surgery Patients Who Had Hair Removed Using a Safer Method

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InstitutionRating
U.S. Average195%
N.C. Average297%
Top Hospitals3100%
Duke Raleigh Hospital99%
Duke University Hospital87%
Durham Regional Hospital97%

The rates displayed in this graph are for discharges January 2008 through September 2008. Source: hospitalcompare.hhs.gov
(1) The U.S. average includes all reporting hospitals in the United States.
(2) The N.C. average includes all reporting hospitals in the state of North Carolina.
(3) "Top Hospitals" represent the top 10% of hospitals nationwide. These hospitals achieved 100% on this measure.

What Does This Measure?

This measures the percentage of surgery patients who needed hair removed from the surgical area before surgery and had hair removed using a safer method. Safer methods include electric clippers or hair removal cream -- not a razor.

Why Is This Important?

Research shows that removing body hair with a razor from skin in the area where the surgery will be done can increase the risk of infection. Electric clippers or hair removal cream are safer ways to remove hair.

What Are We Doing to Improve Our Performance? 

Duke has enacted several initiatives to improve our performance. These include:

More Information

About This Page

Published: Mar. 23, 2009
Updated: Mar. 23, 2009
URL: http://www.dukehealth.org/AboutDuke/quality/performance_measures/surgery/surgery_patients_who_had_hair_removed_using_a_safer_method