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WHO Surgical Safety Checklist

A WHO study of hospitals in eight cities successfully demonstrated that use of the checklist during major operations can lower the incidence of deaths and complications by more than one third. Even more dramatically, inpatient deaths following major operations fell by more than 40% with implementation of the checklist. The checklist ensures important safety steps are followed for every operation. North Carolina hospitals can save lives by implementing this checklist.

The NCHA Board of Trustees has set the aim that all North Carolina hospitals commit to using the World Health Organization (WHO) Surgical Safety Checklist or modified WHO Checklist, and to have fully implemented by June 30, 2012.

To assist with implementation of the checklist, the NC Quality Center is offering a twelve-month Safe Surgery Collaborative designed to improve perioperative safety by implementing evidence-based interventions including the modified WHO surgical safety checklist. For hospitals that chose not to join the Collaborative, the NC Quality Center will launch a statewide campaign in January 2012 providing resources for hospitals to approach this goal on their own. Finally, a statewide NC Safe Surgery Conference will be held in Raleigh, NC on January 25, 2012, which will provide strategies for reducing surgical complications.

For more information, please contact Dean Higgins or Laura Maynard.

77 hospitals have committed to the Surgical Safety Checklist: