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Surgery checklist yields results in pilot studies

NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Aug. 11, 2008

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The World Health Organization is testing a surgical checklist aimed at reducing complications. The effort is designed to help surgeons and other operating-room professionals improve adherence to safety standards.

At the eight test locations, adherence to 24 must-do safety items has improved from 36% to 68%, with some hospitals nearing the 100% mark. The checklist, part of WHO's new Safe Surgery Saves Lives initiative, was released in June and will be finalized at the end of the year when the pilot studies are completed.

The list divides surgery into three phases: before anesthesia, before incision, and before the patient is wheeled from the OR. A nurse who does not scrub in is charged with ensuring list items are completed.

More information is available online (link).

Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2008/08/11/prbf0811.htm.

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