Teach-Back Method Reduces Surgical Site Infections in PACU Discharge Education

Kaiser Permanente initiative shows improved patient understanding leads to lower infection rates.

Apr. 12, 2026 at 11:11am

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A ghostly, translucent X-ray image of a human knee joint, with glowing white lines tracing the intricate bone and cartilage structures, conceptually representing the internal workings of the body and the clinical yet serene approach to improving patient education and reducing surgical site infections.An innovative patient education program leverages the power of the 'teach-back' method to improve surgical wound care and reduce post-operative infections.Fremont Today

A team from Kaiser Permanente Fremont Medical Center presented an initiative at the 2026 AORN Global Surgical Conference & Expo that implemented the teach-back method during discharge education in the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU). The intervention, which involved a standardized teaching script and interactive questions to validate patient comprehension, resulted in a significant reduction in surgical site infections (SSIs).

Why it matters

Surgical site infections often occur weeks after surgery, suggesting that patient and caregiver understanding of wound care may be insufficient. By focusing on improving communication and ensuring patients fully grasp discharge instructions, the initiative demonstrates how infection prevention can extend beyond the operating room.

The details

The team observed a 'significant increased number of SSI in the first 3 quarters of year 2024,' prompting a deeper evaluation of perioperative processes. They identified a gap in the delivery of discharge education in the PACU that could have affected SSI occurrences. To address this, they implemented the teach-back method, which asks patients to repeat information in their own words to confirm understanding. The intervention introduced a standardized teaching script and three guided open-ended questions as part of the PACU discharge process.

  • In the first 3 quarters of 2024, the facility observed a significant increase in surgical site infections.
  • In November 2024 and every month thereafter until May 2025, 0 superficial General Surgery SSIs were noted.

The players

Sienna Tango

MSN, RN, BS Psychology, who led the initiative.

Timothy Yu

BSN, RN, who was part of the team.

Harmeet Brar

MSN, MHA, RN, who was part of the team.

Rebecca Christman

BS, RN, who was part of the team.

Trang Pham

MSN, RN, NI-BC, CPAN, NPD-BC, who was part of the team.

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What they’re saying

“Many of these infections occurred weeks after surgery... there might have been a lack of understanding of surgical wound care from [a] patient's [and] caregiver's standpoint.”

— Sienna Tango, MSN, RN, BS Psychology, Team Lead

“Patients and caregivers expressed feeling more confident and well-equipped to care for their surgical sites after discharge.”

— Sienna Tango, MSN, RN, BS Psychology, Team Lead

What’s next

The team outlined several key next steps, including standardizing the teach-back method across surgical service lines, enhancing patient education materials, and expanding staff training. They also emphasized the need to improve access to information, for example, by using QR codes to link patients to wound care resources.

The takeaway

This initiative highlights the importance of integrating communication strategies into infection prevention efforts. By focusing on improving patient comprehension during discharge, the team was able to reduce surgical site infections, demonstrating how better communication can extend infection control beyond the operating room.