Implementation of the surgical safety checklist at a tertiary academic center: Impact on safety culture and patient outcomes

Abstract

Background The impact and efficacy of the World Health Organization Surgery Safety Checklist (SSC) is uncertain. We sought to determine if the SSC decreases complications and examined the attitudes of the surgical team members following implementation of the SSC. Methods A 28-question survey was developed to assess perspectives of surgical team members at the University of Vermont Medical Center (UVMC). The University Health System Consortium database was examined to compare the rates of nine complications before and after SSC implementation using Chi square analysis and Fisher's exact test. Results There was no significant decrease in any of the nine complications 2 years after SSC implementation. There was overall agreement that the SSC improved communication, safety, and prevented errors in the operating room. However, there was disagreement between nursing and surgeons over whether all three parts of the SSC were always completed. Conclusions Implementation of the SSC did not result in a significant decrease in perioperative morbidity or mortality. However, it did improve the perception of safety culture by operating room staff.