Concurrent/overlapping surgery: Is it happening in your facility?

The practice of concurrent surgery is common and has been accepted for so long that it might be happening in a hospital without anyone other than the surgical team taking note. Herein lies a very important point: What are the responsibilities of healthcare leaders to know such a practice is taking place at their facility, and who establishes and approves the parameters for concurrent surgery?

Since, according to The Joint Commission, the medical executive committee (MEC) has primary authority for self-governance of the medical staff and the governing body carries the ultimate responsibility for safety and quality of care, treatment, and services, both the MEC and the governing body should review and approve any and all policies related to concurrent surgery. Further, we highly recommend that quality improvement activities related to concurrent surgery be regularly reported to both the MEC and governing body and that this requirement be noted in a policy statement. After all, in the event of a negative outcome to a concurrent surgery procedure, the MEC and governing body would still be held accountable regardless of whether it had any insight to the concurrent surgery program. This also holds true for those facilities that allow concurrent surgery unbeknownst to risk management, their insurance carrier, and the governing body.

Source: Medical Staff Briefing