Simple Check List Could Save Lives During Surgery

A study has found that taking certain steps in regards to surgery can help to reduce complications and even death. Steps as simple as introductions being made between patient and doctors and nurses can help.

Eight hospitals around the country started to implement a checklist with 19 things to do with the process of a surgery and the death rate fell by about 40 percent with complications falling by about one-third.

Other items on the checklist include the nurses verifying sterilization of equipment, verifying the patient has been given antibiotics, if so deemed, before the surgery takes place, verification of enough blood in case of blood loss, that all medical equipment for imaging is in the room and that the machine that measures the oxygenation in the blood is working correctly.

Before the surgery takes place the checklist also includes steps to make sure the correct person is in the room for the surgery and that the kind of procedure being performed is the right one. After the surgery is completed the doctors and nurses are supposed to discuss what took place and make sure they inform the patient if any special steps are needed to help them in the recovery process along with ensuring that there is no equipment inside the patient when surgery is done.

These steps have proven to be successful in bringing down the death and complication rates, so they are well worth the extra effort that must be put into place by the staff.