Section 250.1270  Surgical Patients

a)         Patients undergoing major surgical procedures shall be observed both pre-operatively and post-operatively by a competent registered nurse specifically assigned to the patient.  Such observations and assessments shall be documented in the patient's record.

b)         The chart of the patient shall accompany the patient to the operating suite, to the recovery area and be returned with the patient to the patient care unit.

c)         All tissue/specimens removed at surgery, except those exempted by Section 250.510(g)(1), shall be placed in a container properly labeled and submitted for pathological examination.

d)         All infections of surgical, procedural, and endoscopy cases (including, but not limited to those reportable to NHSN) shall be recorded and reported to administration and to the hospital's Infection Control Committee.  The Infection Control Committee shall determine a procedure for the surveillance of such cases.  The Committee shall report the data to the hospital's board at least annually.

(Source:  Amended at 49 Ill. Reg. 14395, effective October 27, 2025)