Albuquerque Personal Injury Legal Blog

Anyone who goes to have a medical procedure done may hear the doctors and nurses call a “time-out” before they get started. This is a critical practice that’s designed to keep patients safe.

A time-out is a pause that happens before surgical procedures and high-risk treatments to give the medical team a chance to review and confirm the details of the case. The goal of a time-out is to avoid issues that would harm the patient, which is anything that means the care provided doesn’t meet the standard of care.

What information is confirmed?

The care team will verify several points. The basic information that’s included is:

• Patient identity
• The procedure being done
• Site on the body

Every person who’s part of the time-out must agree that the information provided during the time-out is correct. This can help to prevent issues, such as wrong site or wrong surgery situations.

What happens if a time-out is skipped?

Patients can suffer significant harm if the time-out is skipped. The effects of that harm can be far-reaching and may require medical care that the patient wouldn’t need otherwise. This can also cause other effects, such as having to miss work while they heal.

When a patient suffers harm because the medical team was negligent, they may opt to pursue a claim for compensation. This can include a variety of damages, including the cost of medical care, loss of wages and other similar financial impacts. Working with someone familiar with these matters is critical so victims can fight for the compensation they deserve.