LAC 48:I.9439. Organization and Staffing

A. Surgical services shall be under the medical direction of a qualified physician who is a member of the medical staff and appointed by the governing body. B. Surgical privileges shall be delineated for all practitioners performing surgery in accordance with the competencies of each practitioner. The surgical services shall maintain a roster of practitioners specifying the surgical privileges of each practitioner. C. The surgical suite shall be supervised by a registered nurse experienced and competent in the management of surgical services. D. A qualified registered nurse shall perform circulating duties for surgical procedures performed. In accordance with the needs of patients and the complexity of services performed, licensed practical nurses and operating room technicians may assist in circulatory duties under the supervision of a registered nurse who is immediately available to respond to emergencies. Licensed practical nurses and operating room technicians may perform scrub functions under the supervision of a registered nurse. E. The operating room register or log, including those created by electronic means, shall be complete and up-to-date. It shall include at least the following: 1. patient's name; 2. patient's hospital identification number; 3. date of the operation; 4. inclusive or total time of the operation; 5. name of the surgeon and any assistant(s); 6. name of nursing personnel (scrub and circulating); 7. type of anesthesia used; 8. name of the person administering the anesthesia; 9. surgical procedure performed; 10. pre and post-operative diagnosis; 11. age of patient; 12. operating room number; and 13. complications, if any. F. An operative report describing techniques, findings, and tissue removed or altered shall be written or dictated immediately following surgery and signed by the surgeon. It shall include at least: 1. the name and hospital identification number of the patient; 2. date of surgery; 3. name of the surgeon and assistant(s); 4. pre-operative and post-operative diagnoses; 5. name of the specific surgical procedure(s) performed; 6. type of anesthesia administered; 7. complications, if any; 8. name of the person administering the anesthesia; 9. surgical procedure performed; 10. pre and post-operative diagnosis; 11. age of patient; 12. operating room number; and 13. complications, if any.