Safety in the Operating Room

How your healthcare team prepares for your surgery

Your healthcare team begins preparing for your surgery well before you enter the operating room (OR). When you arrive in the preoperative area, you’ll meet some of the members of your healthcare team. This includes your anesthesia professional, such as a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) or a physician anesthesiologist.

Each member of your healthcare team will introduce themselves, and you’ll have the opportunity to ask questions. If a family member or a support person is present, they can be included in these conversations. Monitors will be placed to track your heart rate, blood pressure, oxygen level, and breathing. You may also receive medication to help you relax. Read about what you can expect during Your Surgery Day.

As you’re taken into the OR, you’ll meet the rest of your healthcare team, including the surgical staff and OR nurses. If you received medication before entering the OR, you may not remember everything that happens right before and after your surgery. Once you are safely moved into the OR and under the care of your anesthesia professional, you may fall asleep.   

How are patients kept safe during surgery?

Patients are kept safe during surgery through safety checks including identity verification, team “time outs,” infection prevention measures, continuous monitoring, and open communication among surgeons, nurses, anesthesia professionals, and other members of the healthcare team.  

Patient identification

One of the most important safety practices is verifying your identity. This happens multiple times throughout your care: when you arrive, when medications are given, and again in the OR. You’ll wear a wristband with your information that will be checked repeatedly to ensure everything matches. Allergy bands are also used when needed. These repeated checks are intentional and help prevent errors. 

“Time outs:” A team safety pause

Before your surgery begins, the entire team participates in a “time out.” This is a deliberate pause where everyone confirms: 

• The correct patient  
• The correct procedure  
• The correct surgical site  
• All necessary equipment is ready  
• Any patient-related information that would affect care, such as pregnancy tests or hearing aids  

Everyone involved in the procedure must agree before moving forward. Additional “time outs” may happen if the surgery includes multiple parts or if anything changes. 

Infection prevention in the operating room

Preventing infection is a major priority in the OR. This starts with proper hand hygiene and extends to strict sterile techniques. Members of the surgical team wear sterile gowns, gloves, masks, and hats. Your skin will be cleaned with a special antiseptic solution to reduce bacteria, and sterile drapes will be placed to create a clean surgical field. Even small details, like using single-use syringes and carefully handling medications, are part of a larger system designed to protect you. 

How your team focuses on patient safety

Every person in the OR plays an important role in keeping you safe. While each team member has a specific responsibility, patient safety is a shared commitment. 

• The circulating nurse oversees the overall function of the room.  
• The anesthesia professional focuses entirely on your safety and well-being.
• The surgeon and surgical team concentrate on the procedure itself. 

If anything seems concerning, anyone in the room can speak up and pause the process. This culture of safety and accountability ensures that concerns are addressed immediately, and you are kept as safe as possible.