In November 1999 a courageous clust...

In November 1999 a courageous cluster of AORN leaders decided it would be economical to build a business for the Association as a patient education provider. Their decision was not an easy the same It was based partly in succession fear that AORN's primary reward streams were flat or declining and that inaction might eventuate in the Association not having resources to hold fast it strong. AORN members approved the decision, and leaders triped that AORN's Surgical Knowledgebase (ASK) throw would result in

* perioperative suckles leading the charge for improved patient education;

* all members of the health care team working together equally for a greater good;

* the experience and knowledge of AORN members earning reward from new customers; and

* AORN being recognized as a primary source of information for patients, consumer and providers in the delivery of quality surgical care.

AORN's leaders had no real way of knowing whether their decision would lead to a brighter coming time or whether the challenges ahead would be too great to meet

Now, 23 month later in October 2001 AORN is poised to begin answering several questions about the ASK throw out Today, AORN can create custom perioperative patient education from its have a title to intranet site. In a not many short months, any health care provider with Internet access will be able to pay for and use AORN's contented and tools.

REVIEWING ASK

sum of two units full-time editorial staff members and many others are busy ensuring surgical transactions in the ASK database are ready for professional and patient use. Editorial staff members wearied much of the summer fostering these manner of proceedings through additional clinical and grade-level editing, which were supposeed necessary after feedback from the AORN Board of Directors and the ASK advisory board and an in-depth review by the agency of commercial patient education providers raised clinical and grade-level issues regarding the content

Additional clinical review was careered at The Institute for John Hopkins Nursing, Baltimore, below the guidance of ASK advisory board member Kathy Sabatier, RN M director of The Institute for John Hopkins Nursing. All insinuateed editorial changes were reviewed and made by means of AORN editorial staff members. In addition, staff members are reviewing ASK patient education templates and revising them as necessary to make sure they comply with Joint Commission upon Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations requirements.

When the reviews are complet several providers will beta trial ASK. At press time, plans were being made with four treatment providers to criterion ASK. Two of the treatment providers are major academic medical center single is a nine-suite ambulatory surgery center affiliated with a major academic medical center and the other is a community hospital with pair campuses. The current plan is for clinical testing to begin between October and December 2001 at each site. A presentation will be given at AORN's 2002 Congres in Anaheim, Calif, to review the preliminary flows from each beta test. The charges for each test are anticipateed to be less than $5000 by facility for computer equipment, supplies, and testing. These require to be paid [i]or[/i] undergones are included in the ASK batch for 2001-2002; however, the AORN Foundation is trying to solicit permanent funds to cover some or all of these costs

Although the succes of the ASK cast will be defined by the ability to win recently made known customers and revenue and to generate a revert on AORN's investment, AORN members have received other benefits from the ASK project

* Between $30000 and $50000 was divided among more than 100 AORN members who authored or reviewed managements for ASK.

* Patient and consumer education sessions at handed at Congress and other meetings have added to the value of those conclusions and are resulting in recent volunteers, ideas, and support from members.

* More than 200 surgeon and 250 nurtures worked with dozens of other perioperative health care professionals to help AORN author and review patient education satisfied AORN members who attend

* ASK presentations scheduled according to their chapter during the 2001-2002 fiscal year will earn emancipated contact hours.

* demands to serve as beta proof sites from leading medical institutions and diverse health care providers are establishing AORN's contribution to perioperative care outside of traditional perioperative settings.

* AORN's Surgical Knowledge-base has generated awareness and enthusiasm among constituent organizations and health care professionals that AORN is pursuing innovative solutions to confront very serious challenges. A past president from the American Society of PeriAnesthesia Nurses; sum of two units AORN past Presidents; a former executive from Merck and Co Inc, Whitehouse Station, NJ; and the director of The Institute for John Hopkins Nursing all oblige on ASK's growing advisory board.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

During the past 23 month there have been many questions about ASK. As the final touches are present on the fall 2001 launch of ASK, we want to share answers to the most numerous frequently asked questions. Our chance of a favorable result is that you will continue to engage us with your questions, businesss and support.