Patient Safety: First Do No Harm

“First, do no harm” is the oft quoted oath taken by physicians and it is therefore the responsibility of every surgeon to insure that every step of a patient’s treatment be as risk free and safe as possible.

In plastic surgery, that charge is even more relevant since many procedures are elective and many are performed in the physician’s office. I am proud to say that at Summit Plastic Surgery and Dermatology our safety record is impeccable. This is no accident.

We were the first office in Wilmington to have an office operating suite accredited by The American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities (AAAASF), 15 years before our specialty organization required such accreditation.

I am the only plastic surgeon in Wilmington to be certified by both The American Academy of Otolaryngology (AAO) and The American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS). Each of these boards require their own extensive continuing education and re-certification processes. I am the only surgeon in Wilmington to be a member of The American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), an organization that reviews an applicants surgical cases and performance history before offering membership.

I instituted safety guidelines adopted by the aviation industry years before these measures were instituted by hospitals and outpatient surgery centers across the US. Measures like the required use of checklists, safety words, red ticket items, and redundancy.

So am I tooting my own horn? You bet. And the horns of my excellent staff. These safety measures, ensure that errors are caught with a multi-teared check and balance. Through our ongoing and daily commitment to patient safety, we at Summit have a safety record competitive with any in the country. Our commitment and promise to each patient, “First do no harm.”.

Patient Safety: First Do No Harm

“First, do no harm” is the oft quoted oath taken by physicians and it is therefore the responsibility of every surgeon to insure that every step of a patient’s treatment be as risk free and safe as possible.

In plastic surgery, that charge is even more relevant since many procedures are elective and many are performed in the physician’s office. I am proud to say that at Summit Plastic Surgery and Dermatology our safety record is impeccable. This is no accident.

We were the first office in Wilmington to have an office operating suite accredited by The American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities (AAAASF), 15 years before our specialty organization required such accreditation.

I am the only plastic surgeon in Wilmington to be certified by both The American Academy of Otolaryngology (AAO) and The American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS). Each of these boards require their own extensive continuing education and re-certification processes. I am the only surgeon in Wilmington to be a member of The American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), an organization that reviews an applicants surgical cases and performance history before offering membership.

I instituted safety guidelines adopted by the aviation industry years before these measures were instituted by hospitals and outpatient surgery centers across the US. Measures like the required use of checklists, safety words, red ticket items, and redundancy.

So am I tooting my own horn? You bet. And the horns of my excellent staff. These safety measures, ensure that errors are caught with a multi-teared check and balance. Through our ongoing and daily commitment to patient safety, we at Summit have a safety record competitive with any in the country. Our commitment and promise to each patient, “First do no harm.”.

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