Final answer:
Patients not present at consecutive head-counts must still adhere to a 'time out' procedure and show up on time for appointments, following protocols for reporting absences and ensuring patient safety during procedures.
Step-by-step explanation:
Patients who are not present at either of two successive head-counting times during a hospital stay must still follow the established protocol before skin incision, which involves a time out process. During this time out, the entire team, including nurses, surgeons, anesthesia professionals, and others participating in the care of the patient, must review certain critical items aloud together. This checklist includes verifying the name of the procedure as recorded, ensuring that the needle, sponge, and instrument counts are complete, confirming that any specimens are correctly labeled with the patient's name, and addressing any issues with equipment.
Moreover, patients should always show up on time for all their appointments unless they have a valid reason for being absent, in which case they would need to communicate according to the protocol for reporting time off. This could potentially include situations where measurements or verifications need to be made concerning the patient's state of health, such as during the described time out where multiple professionals coordinate to secure patient safety.