Using a Specimen Resource Aid to Reduce Intraoperative Specimen Errors

Specimen management is a critical component of safe patient care. Incorrect results or misdiagnoses may cause delayed or improper treatment and delayed or adverse outcomes. We piloted a quality improvement project to address labeling errors in a surgical suite at a large Midwestern academic medical center. We created a gynecology-specific source aid to assist intraoperative team members define the tissue source according to anatomic location and pathology department regulations. The aid also provided tips on preparing and transporting specimens. Staff member feedback showed that the source aid was user-friendly and helpful. Most specimen errors after the implementation of the aid were related to nonreportable, fixation delays; and we implemented a second phase to address the delays. Collaboration and education during this project fostered staff member empowerment to manage specimens effectively using the source aid and promote safe patient care.