PA NEWS

News from the Council on Surgical & Perioperative Safety

For Release: August 24, 2007
Contact: Barbara L. Dean 312-202-5700 or
Jeffery M. Beutler 847-655-1100
E-Mail: info@cspsteam.org or jbeutler@aana.org

New Group on Surgical and Perioperative Safety Incorporates in the State of IL

CHICAGO: A multidisciplinary coalition of professional organizations whose members are involved in the care of surgical patients has incorporated as the Council on Surgical & Perioperative Safety (CSPS) in the state of Illinois. The mission and vision of the CSPS is to promote a culture of patient safety with members of the surgical team working together to provide optimal patient care and a caring perioperative workplace environment.

Voting members from seven organizations serve as the CSPS Board of Directors and include the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists; the American Association of Surgical Physician Assistants; the American College of Surgeons; the American Society of Anesthesiologists; the American Society of PeriAnesthesia Nurses; the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses; and the Association of Surgical Technologists.

The goals of the CSPS are to:

• create opportunities for strategic, informed dialogue
• identify areas of potential internal and external collaboration to improve surgical patient safety and perioperative workplace environments
• share information and establish ongoing lines of communication between member organizations
• raise awareness among the public, healthcare leaders, and members of the perioperative team
• provide or facilitate joint educational opportunities for members of the team
• coordinate advocacy efforts for surgical patient safety and a caring workplace environment

The idea for the CSPS resulted from a summit on perioperative care cosponsored by the American College of Surgeons, the American Society of Anesthesiologists, and the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses in February 2004. At that summit, nurse anesthetists, surgical physician assistants, perianesthesia nurses, and surgical technologists were invited to participate. A number of shared themes emerged which led to the concept of creating a culture of patient safety through cooperative efforts and communication among the entire perioperative team.

At its July 15, 2007, meeting, the Board of Directors elected Jeffery M. Beutler, CRNA, MS (from the American Association of Nurse Anesthestists) as Chair; Lena M. Napolitano, MD, FACS (from the American College of Surgeons) as Vice Chair, and; Sharon McNamara, RN, MS, CNOR (from the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses) as Secretary/Treasurer.