Safety in the O.R. in the preoperative phase

Patient safety in the O.R. begins with the preoperative assessment of the patient by the surgeon, anesthesiologist and nursing staff who will be caring for the patient intraoperatively.  A standard history and physical is always a must.  Preoperative labs and other workup will be determined by the patient's history and surgical procedure to be performed.  A directed history regarding the current specific problem is the next step in evaluating the patient.  Part of the preoperative preparation includes the review and checking of all consents especially the surgical consent when laterality is an issue.  Other issues of importance include starting a good intravenous, obtaining preoperative vital signs and providing for anxiolytic medication for the patient.