The objective was to evaluate the effect of TeamSTEPPS on operating room efficiency and patient safety. TeamSTEPPS consisted of briefings attended by all health care personnel assigned to the specific operating room to discuss issues unique to each case scheduled for that day. The operative times, on-time start rates, and turnover times of all cases performed by the urology service during the initial year with TeamSTEPPS were compared to the prior year. Patient safety issues identified during postoperative briefings were analyzed. The mean case time was 12.7 minutes less with TeamSTEPPS (P < .001). The on-time first-start rate improved by 21% with TeamSTEPPS (P < .001). The mean room turnover time did not change. Patient safety issues declined from an initial rate of 16% to 6% at midyear and remained stable (P < 0.001). TeamSTEPPS was associated with improved operating room efficiency and diminished patient safety issues in the operating room.

No abstract

CTU added no additional diagnostic benefit versus unenhanced CT in evaluating the upper urinary tracts of adults younger than 50 years with asymptomatic microscopic hematuria. Using only unenhanced CT can reduce radiation and minimize contrast agent-associated risk, with a less than 1.0% risk of missing upper urinary tract hematuria-related malignancy.

Fluoroscopy time during uncomplicated, unilateral ureteroscopy for urolithiasis decreases with increasing urology resident operative experience. Other technical options during ureteroscopy were also found to influence fluoroscopy time.