Latex exposure and allergic reactions continue to occur. It is important for healthcare providers to recognize latex-containing products and use suitable alternatives in situations that call for them.

The clinical literature provides conflicting evidence for when x-rays may be useful in locating lost surgical needles.

Excluding emergency or otherwise problematic cases, the commonly reported problem related to informed consent involved cases in which patients received several procedures during the same episode of care and consented to some procedures but not to others.

The potential for errors of patient identification may be greatest in acute care hospitals, where a wide range of interventions are delivered in various locations by numerous staff who work in shifts.

Children often experience adverse patient safety events, and vulnerable populations (e.g., less than one-year old) are at the highest risk.

The universal protocol goes into effect July 1, 2004.