Apparatus and method to reduce the likelihood of wrong site surgery

Abstract

The invention is an apparatus comprising a garment that prevents wrong site surgery. The garment comprises a garment portion, a warning, a patient information indicator, and a verification. The warning, patient information indicator and verification can be integral with the garment portion or printed on a separable medium. The method of the present invention comprises steps to prevent wrong site surgery including placing a garment on a non-operative body part, placing a warning on said garment, placing patient information on said garment, and requiring the patient or an authorized individual to verify that the patient is willingly undergoing the surgery. The above pieces of information can be removed from the garment and placed in the patient's medical record.

1 . A garment to assist in the prevention of wrong site surgery, said garment comprising: 
 a. a garment portion to be placed on a body part of a patient on which surgery is not to be performed;    b. a warning on said garment portion, said warning comprising information indicating that surgery is not to be performed on said body part; and    c. a patent information indicator.    
   
   
       2 . A garment to assist in the prevention of wrong site surgery, said garment comprising: 
 a. a garment portion to be placed on a body part of a patient on which surgery is not to be performed;    b. at least one display means having a transparent face and secured to said garment portion, said display means having at least one opening;    c. a warning dimensioned to fit inside of said at least one display means, said warning comprising information indicating that surgery is not to be performed on said body part, and    d. patent information indicator dimensioned to fit inside of another of said at least one display means,    wherein said patient information indicator and said warning able to be removed from said display means and placed in said display means.    
   
   
       3 . A garment as claimed in  claim 1  further comprising a verification.  
   
   
       4 . A garment as claimed in  claim 2  further comprising a verification.  
   
   
       5 . A garment as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said patient information indicator comprises information of an appropriate surgical sight.  
   
   
       6 . A garment as claimed in  claim 2  wherein said patient information indicator comprises information of an appropriate surgical sight.  
   
   
       7 . A garment as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said patient information indicator comprises said patient's name.  
   
   
       8 . A garment as claimed in  claim 2  wherein said patient information indicator comprises said patient's name.  
   
   
       9 . A garment as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said patient information indicator comprises a surgeon's name.  
   
   
       10 . A garment as claimed in  claim 2  wherein said patient information indicator comprises a surgeon's name.  
   
   
       11 . A method to prevent wrong site surgery comprising the steps of: 
 a. placing a garment on a body part on which surgery is not to be performed;    b. placing a warning on said garment, said warning comprising information that surgery is not to be performed on said body part;    c. placing patient information indicator on said garment.    
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising the step of requiring said patient to verify that said patient is willingly participanting in said surgery thereby creating a verification.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising the step of requiring an authorized individual to verify that the patient is willingly participating in said surgery thereby creating a verification.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising the steps of: 
 a. removing said patient indicator from said garment; and    b. placing said patient information indicator in a medical record of said patient.    
   
   
       15 . The method of claims  11  or  12  further comprising the steps of: 
 a. removing said verification from said garment; and    b. placing said verification in a medical record of said patient.    
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 10  wherein said verification comprises a signature.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 11  wherein said verification comprises a signature.  
   
   
       18 . The garment of  claim 1  wherein said garment portion is a sleeve.  
   
   
       19 . The garment of  claim 2  wherein said garment portion is a sleeve.  
   
   
       20 . The garment of  claim 1  wherein said garment portion is a wrap having two ends with a securing means on each end.  
   
   
       21 . The garment of  claim 2  wherein said garment portion is a wrap having two ends with a securing means on each end.