The Orthopedic Hospital Warsaw staff are all smiles because The Orthopedic Hospital has been recognized as a Center of Excellence in Surgical Safety: Prevention of RSI by the AORN. Photo provided by Lutheran Health Network.

News Release

WARSAW — The Orthopedic Hospital has been recognized as a Center of Excellence in Surgical Safety: Prevention of RSI by the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses, representing more than 200,000 surgical nurses across the country.

With this award, AORN recognizes the hospital for its commitment to reducing the risk of surgical errors by advancing the education of its surgical team members in the prevention of near misses and the consequences of unintentionally retained surgical items. TOH is the only hospital in the State of Indiana to receive the Center of Excellence recognition.

AORN announced its national education and recognition awards program in early 2022. The Orthopedic Hospital is among the first facilities in the United States to earn the designation as a Center of Excellence in Surgical Safety: Prevention of RSI. The award signifies the hospital has adopted new practices in its continued safe care of the surgical patient after successfully completing the months-long comprehensive, evidence-based program.

Unintentionally retained surgical items, or RSIs, refer to any surgical sponge, instrument, tool, or device that is unintentionally left in the patient at the completion of a surgery or other procedure. For years, unintentional RSIs have been identified as the most common sentinel event in surgical or invasive procedures by The Joint Commission, the standards-setting and accrediting body in health care.

“As surgical procedures continue to advance and medical research reveals new methods to improve surgical patient safety practices, it is imperative that facilities and practitioners adapt their practice in the interest of patient safety,” said AORN’s Executive Director/CEO Linda Groah, MSN, RN, CNOR, NEA-BC, FAAN. “This Center of Excellence for Surgical Safety designation shows the community that they can depend on the quality of care provided.”

“Delivering quality safe orthopedic care for the community is the standard for the surgeons, surgical team and support staff at The Orthopedic Hospital. In receiving this award, AORN recognizes TOH’s commitment to patient safety, adoption of new practices and technology, and completion of comprehensive, team-based education for the prevention of RSIs. We are proud to be a Center of Excellence in Surgical Safety,“ said Amy Hochstetler, Chief Administrative Officer of The Orthopedic Hospital.