July 2016 • Ophthalmology Business 7
References
1. Hempel S, et al. Wrong-site surgery, retained
surgical items, and surgical fires: A systemic
review of surgical never events. JAMA Surg.
2015;150:796–805.
2. Simon JW, et al. Surgical confusions in
ophthalmology. Arch Ophthalmol. 2007;125:
1515–1522.
3. Recommendations of American Associa-
tion of Ophthalmology Wrong-Site Task Force.
Wrong-site-wrong-IOL checklist. 2014. www.
aao.org/patient-safety-statement/recommen-
dations-of-american-academy-ophthalmology-
Editors' note: Dr. Dutt has financial
interests with the Site of Surgery
Assistant app.
Contact information
Dutt: eyecarecenter@outlook.com
finds there is demand for Android,
Windows, or HTML versions of Site
of Surgery Assistant, he will expand
to those platforms as well. The app's
initial download is free but there
are a couple of in-app purchases for
those who might want additional
features.
"It takes time to see value in new
ideas," he said. "With more experi-
ence, we feel that will be the case for
this visual application. We are also
looking at bringing this visual system
to the rest of the informed consent
process."
From a patient privacy stand-
point, Dr. Dutt said the app does not
retain patient information.
Find more information about the
app in the iTunes Apple store. OB
The American Academy of Oph-
thalmology, for example, produced
a Wrong-Site-Wrong-IOL Checklist
in 2014 with input from ASCRS and
other organizations.
3
These recom-
mendations include confirming the
patient's identity with 2 identifiers
such as their name and birth date,
confirming the procedure to take
place, and marking the operative eye
on the cheek or forehead.
This last recommendation could
prove troublesome if it is covered
with draping or is somehow wiped
off. It also might not include as de-
tailed information as that provided
on the wristband generated by the
Site of Surgery Assistant app.
The app was approved for
publishing in the Apple store in De-
cember 2015, but Dr. Dutt said if he
surgical confusion
The Site of Surgery Assistant app was created by an ophthalmologist to help prevent "never events." The app is designed to reduce right-left confusion at the time of surgery and reinforce
other details for surgical accuracy.
Source: Srin Dutt, MD
"
One wrong-site surgery event occurs in
every 100,000 surgeries.
"
Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA)
