EE ssentially, the system works much like a grocery store check-out counter – every laparotomy and gauze sponge is pre-labeled with an individual and unique bar code (in this instance, a 2-D data matrix label) and a scanning SurgiCounter is used to read the labels. Unlike other technologies, there is no major change in a hospital’s established AORN manual counting practices and procedures. And no other technology can offer documented time stamps of when every item was counted in and out.

When using the system, staff concurrently scan sponges during their manual counts or can scan the items before or after the manual count. The SurgiCounters can be held by the circulator, or can be placed on a holster on an IV pole in a hands-free mode. By scanning in the unique labels, the system builds a database of items used in that particular procedure. At the end of the procedure when the circulator is counting out the sponges, the circulator will again swipe the sponge under the SurgiCounter, this time in order to “count” the sponge out of the database. Because each sponge has a unique bar code, the system automatically alerts the staff in case they have accidentally tried to count the same sponge twice. This assists the staff in validating that they have an accurate count in case the there was a manual counting error.

Because the SurgiCounter is in a fact a mobile computer and every sponge is uniquely identified, the system is able to record and document the entire procedure. Every item’s size, unique ID code and time in and out is time stamped, documented and archived. The software also captures the opening staff as well as the closing staff.

Reports can be printed immediately with special printers that also act as rechargers or can be archived and printed later through a Windows-based desktop application that allows the consolidation of all reports done on one or all of a hospital’s SurgiCounters. Reports can be exported from the database in XML for import into a hospital’s paperless management system.