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Safe Surgery Implementation Checklist

Medium 14 items · 30 min
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testuser Published 2 months ago
Health

This checklist summarizes practical steps to help surgical teams implement safer practices in hospitals and clinics. Inspired by World Health Organization guidelines. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.

Inspired by World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional where applicable.

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  1. Verify patient identity and surgical site — Confirm wristband, full name, DOB, and the planned site with the patient or records.
  2. Confirm informed consent and planned procedure — Ensure written consent matches the procedure and any planned side or implant.
  3. Review medical history, medications, and allergies — Note anticoagulants, chronic conditions, and drug or latex allergies.
  4. Confirm fasting status and airway/aspiration risk — Ask time of last food or drink and flag any difficult airway concerns.
  5. Administer prophylactic antibiotics when indicated — Give the recommended antibiotic within 60 minutes before incision if required.
  6. Ensure required imaging and test results are available — Verify that films, lab reports, and blood crossmatches are in the chart or on screen.
  7. Prepare instruments, implants, and sterile supplies
  8. Arrange implants and specialty equipment — Place implants, prostheses, or device kits ready and check expiration dates.
  9. Perform instrument and sponge count before incision and at closure — Record counts and resolve any discrepancies immediately.
  10. Confirm anesthesia setup and patient monitoring are ready — Check ventilator, IV access, monitoring leads, and emergency drugs.
  11. Mark the surgical site and confirm laterality with the team — Use a visible mark and verbal confirmation to prevent wrong-site surgery.
  12. Conduct a team time-out immediately before incision — Have all team members state patient, procedure, site, and any concerns aloud.
  13. Monitor patient temperature, fluids, and blood loss during the case — Record trends and intervene for hypothermia or excessive bleeding.
  14. Complete sign-out: confirm counts, label specimens, and give postoperative plan — Ensure recovery team receives handover and document any issues or complications.
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