Every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday at 8 am and every Wed at 9:30 am, representatives from perioperative areas and supportive departments gather to discuss the MESS (methods, equipment, staffing and supplies), and any event that occurred since the last huddle. These representatives crossover between the arenas that will see the same patient and may include:
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Donna Via and Katie Hullfish, MD
Kathie Hullfish, as the Associate Chief Medical Officer (ACMO) for Perioperative Services
- Donna Via, as Administrator for the Perioperative Services
- Representatives from the following units: Surgical Admissions Suite (SAS), the OR, Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU), Sterile Processing Department, Surgical Supply, Clinical Engineering, Pharmacy, Surgical IT Services and Surgical Services Scheduling
These may also include the Manager and Medical Director from each area, which comprise the Unit Based Leadership or UBL, the anesthesia lead (sometimes known as “the board runner” – the person in charge of patient flow for the OR that day), the charge nurses, and other individuals. After the MESS, any event or staff concern regarding a safety issue is addressed.
Surgeons, residents and other trainees are encouraged to attend, in part to learn the processes as well as to participate. Interested individuals are more than welcome to observe this highly functional, successful UBL and its lean management methodology. This high level process decreases variability across the system and ensures that all groups caring for patients are aware of the issues of the day.
Filed Under: Staff