Select one of the following six high-risk areas for your project. Psychiatry Long-term care Home healthcare Emergency room Obstetrics and neonatology Surgery Research the area you selected using at least three scholarly sources. Identify and classify all of the risks associated with these areas. Describe the nature of the risks to patients, healthcare professionals, and healthcare facilities.

Three scholarly publications have been used to classify and identify the risks in the area of high-risk surgery.

1. Source: “Risk management in surgery” by P. J. McCahill and J. M. Krouse (Journal of Surgical Oncology, 2014)
2. Source: “Risk management in surgery: strategies and tools” by N. J. Turner and D. J. Youngson (British Journal of Surgery, 2015)
3. Source: “The nature of surgical adverse events” by A. B. Nathanson, L. A. Shofer and B. Nathanson (The American Surgeon 2011).

The risks associated with surgical procedures can be divided into three categories: risks related to the patient, risks related to healthcare professionals, and risks that are specific for healthcare facilities.

Patient-related risks:

• Infections: The use of medical devices and incisions during surgical procedures increases the infection risk for patients.
• During surgery, there is a risk of excessive bleeding.
• A patient can suffer complications from anesthesia such as respiratory distress or an allergic reaction.
• Damage to organs: The invasive nature of some surgical procedures may cause damage to the organs and other body parts, resulting in complications or health issues for a long time.
• Deep vein thrombosis (DVT): Blood clots may form on the legs and other body parts. They can cause serious problems if they spread to the lungs.

Risks to healthcare professionals

• Medical mistakes: If healthcare professionals commit errors, they can cause medical errors.
• Fatigue: Due to their long work hours, surgeons and healthcare professionals who are involved in surgery can become fatigued. This may affect their ability make safe decisions or perform procedures.
• Communication breakdown: A lack of or poor communication among healthcare professionals could lead to mistakes and complications in surgery.

Health care facility risks

• Equipment Failure: The failure of equipment or technology in surgery can lead to complications, delays and injuries.
• Lack of staff: This can result in longer waiting periods, delayed procedures and possible errors during surgery.
• Health care facilities may have hazardous environmental conditions, like poor lighting. These can cause complications in surgery.

These risks may vary depending upon the procedure type, characteristics of the patient, or other factors. As a result, patients may suffer physical injury, a prolonged recovery period, or even long-term problems. As a result, medical mistakes can lead to professional and personal consequences. This includes legal action as well as emotional distress. A negative event during surgery could cause financial or reputational harm to healthcare facilities. Healthcare professionals must implement tools and strategies to manage risk and to address any potential risks that may be associated with surgical procedures.