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Retained Foreign Object Solutions

Retained Foreign Object prevention

Aiding in the prevention of retained foreign objects

Prevent one of the most common "Never Events"

Did you know?
  • Retained Foreign Objects (RFOs) are the most common adverse surgical event reported, occurring in 1 out of every 5, 500 procedures. 1
  • The majority of RFOs occur in patients with "correct counts" and manual counting as a primary mechanism to avoid RFOs is unreliable. 2
  • RFOs impact patient outcomes, add unnecessary costs to the healthcare system, damage the reputation of institutions and are no longer being reimbursed by CMS and some third-party payers.
  • The average legal settlement is $250,000 with many settlements in excess of $1 million.

Protect your staff, your patients and your bottom line with the Safety-Sponge® System from SurgiCount Medical, Cardinal Health’s preferred solution for the prevention of RFOs.

Features and benefits of the Safety-Sponge® system:
  • Computer assisted counting and electronic documentation using uniquely bar coded sponges and hand held scanners
  • Safe, simple and easily adopted
  • The most cost-effective approach to preventing RFOs
  • Current users include 4 out of Top 10 U.S. News and World Report "Best Hospitals"
  • Over 25 million Safety-Sponges® used in over 1 million procedures with zero reported retained sponges
  • Provides post-operative, evidence-based outcomes via tracking individual sponges and other procedure specific data through the use of the Citadel™ File Manager
  • Backed by a $1 million per incident indemnification program
  • Supports AORN recommended practices for counting

**Take patient safety to a higher level with the new Surgical Checklist Performance and Documentation System.
  • Touch screen performance of fully customizable safe surgery checklists
  • Complete surgical checklist compliance and documentation solution

In the news
TriCities.com: SurgiCount keeps surgery patients safe from lost sponges Opens in a new window
Preventing retained surgical items: What role does technology play? OR Manager, November 2009 Opens in a new window
Patient Safety Technologies Signs Contract with Partners HealthCare, to Implement the Safety-Sponge™ System at Brigham & Women's Hospital Opens in a new window
ABC News "Counting Sponges during Surgery" - July 2009 Opens in a new window
Hospitals In Ventura County Fined For Botched Surgeries Opens in a new window
Patient Safety Technologies, Inc. Announces the Adoption of the Safety-Sponge™ System by the First Hospital in the State of Indiana Opens in a new window
CBS/WCCO "New Scan Counts for Surgical Sponges Left Behind" - February 2009 Opens in a new window
NBC News 24 “Medical Mistakes, When Things are Left Behind” – November 2008 Opens in a new window
CBS2 Investigation Uncovers Hospital Mistakes – November 2008 Opens in a new window
“Sponges, surgical instruments miscounted in 13% of surgeries”- American Medical News – September 2008 Opens in a new window

Continuing education

Visit the clinical center to view our Continuing Education Program "Prevention of Retained Sponges and Towels Following Surgery"

Clinical studies
Incidence and Characteristics of Potential and Actual Retained Foreign Object Events in Surgical Patients Opens in a new window (© 2008 by the American College of Surgeons)
Bar-coding Surgical Sponges To Improve Safety: A Randomized Controlled Trial Opens in a new window (© 2008 by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins)

1. and 2. Citations listed on SurgiCount literature piece
** Checklist performance and documentation feature not yet approved for sale. Anticipated availability in 2010.
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