Which of the following practices should be used to implement the Joint Commission's Universal Protocol for preventing wrong site, wrong procedure, wrong person surgery?

The practice of using the time-out procedure before beginning the procedure is essential to implementing the Joint Commission's Universal Protocol. The time-out serves as a critical safety measure to confirm important details before surgery begins. During the time-out, the surgical team pauses to collectively verify the patient's identity, the surgical site, and the procedure to be performed. This coordinated effort significantly reduces the likelihood of errors, such as wrong site or wrong procedure surgeries, by ensuring that everyone involved is on the same page.

Establishing such clear communication and verification protocols is fundamental in the perioperative setting, where the stakes are high. The time-out procedure is specifically designed to be completed just prior to the start of a surgical intervention, allowing any last-minute corrections or confirmations to take place. This proactive approach is a key component of patient safety initiatives and is directly aligned with the Joint Commission's guidelines for preventing surgical errors.