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Surgery Patients Who Had Hair Removed Using a Safer Method
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| Institution | Rating |
|---|---|
| U.S. Average1 | 100% |
| N.C. Average2 | 100% |
| Top Hospitals3 | 100% |
| Duke Raleigh Hospital | 100% |
| Duke University Hospital | 99% |
| Durham Regional Hospital | 100% |
The rates displayed in this graph are for discharges April 2011 through March 2012.
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:
- Computerized physician order entry (CPOE)
- Electronic medical records (EMR)
- Evidence-based medicine
- Nursing and physician education
- OR View
- Patient safety and clinical quality committees
- Six Sigma
- Standardized order sets
- Surgery-specific discharge instructions and patient education materials
- Surgical care improvement project
More Information
