Alert issued on patients wakening during surgery: hospitals are being urged to follow up with patients who have experienced anesthesia awareness.(Neurology)

Publication: Internal Medicine News

Publication Date: 15-DEC-04

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COPYRIGHT 2004 International Medical News Group

The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Health Care Organizations has put hospitals on notice that they need to develop and put into place a policy that educates staff about the potential for "anesthesia awareness."

In issuing its alert, the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Health Care Organizations (JCAHO) also recommended that hospitals adopt new monitoring technology as it becomes proven and institute "appropriate" postsurgical follow-up of all patients who receive anesthesia, including referral for psychological counseling, if necessary.

Patients need to be told that it is possible they may awaken during surgery, according to the JCAHO report.

The alert was prompted by...

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