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BUSINESS

To mitigate the effects that distractions in the OR may
cause, this publication offers strategies to keep focused atten-
tion on the patient and maintain a safer surgical environment.
1. Use a sound level meter or a dosimeter to determine whether
the OR has a noise problem. The Environmental Protection
Agency’s recommended level for continuous background noise
in hospitals is 45 decibels, which can still interfere with con-
centration. However, a study measuring noise levels in OR
trauma found an average level of almost double the recom-
mended level.(4)
2. Create a no-interruption zone where nonessential conversation
and activities are prohibited during the critical phases of the
surgical procedure.

3. Use fixed communication devices (such as overhead pages and
announcements as well as landline telephones) only for essen-
tial communication, and ensure that they operate on the lowest
volume available.
4. Control/limit the amount of healthcare personnel entering and
exiting the OR during surgery to minimize interruptions.
5. Review and comply with the facility’s guidelines and/or policies
regarding the use of personal electronic devices in the OR. If
guidelines don’t exist, devise specific policies about technology
use in the OR.
6. Require healthcare staff members to place personal commu-
nication and electronic music devices on vibrate or silent mode
during surgery. If possible, have them turn off the devices or
leave them in another room.
7. If staff do bring mobile communication devices into the OR, to lessen noise. For example, advise healthcare staff to place
have them silence ring tones and forward calls to voicemail. metal instruments onto trays as quietly as possible.
Minimize tones on personal technology devices that sound 14. Avoid loud or distracting music in the OR.
similar to monitors and alarms in the OR.
8. Consider limiting OR internet access only to patient-care-re- Resources
lated websites to avoid discretionary browsing.
• Distractions in the Operating Room: An Anesthesia Professional’s Lia-
9. Educate all surgical team members about the sources of noise bility? (Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation)
in the OR and how they affect patient and staff safety. • Minimizing Noise and Distractions in the OR and Procedural Units
(The Joint Commission)
10. Provide training to enhance OR staff members’ focused atten-
• Minimizing OR Noise and Distractions (OR Today)
tion in the presence of noise — both continuous and intermit-
• Statement on Distractions in the Operating Room (American College
tent — and other distractions.
of Surgeons)
11. Consider simulation training to model specific strategies for re-
ducing noise (such as equipment use, communication tech- Ms. Baze is the AVP – Market Manager Southwest Divi-
niques, and speaking up to reduce noise). sion for MedPro. She can be reached at Office: 512-774-5487,

12. Foster a culture of safety in which staff feel empowered and Cell: 512-658-0262, Fax: 844-293-6355,
comfortable to speak up and ask for silence. Kirsten.Baze@medpro.com, www.medpro.com, 9600 Escarp-

13. Consider the OR’s physical environment and what can be done ment Blvd., Ste 745, PMB 30, Austin, TX 78749

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