Checklists – As Important As Ever in Anesthesia Patient Safety

The concept of the safety checklist is simple and well-established, but compliance varies widely.  Some of the keys to successful implementation are extensive preparation to maximize safety culture in the unit where checklists are to be used, engagement of leadership in rolling out and emphasizing the importance of the checklist, and customization to the specific hospital.

“Patient Safety Issues Spur NIH Shake-Up” was an above-the-fold headline in the Washington Post on May 11, 2016.  NIH Director Francis Collins, MD is replacing top leadership at the 200-bed Clinical Center with a new management team with experience in oversight, compliance and patient safety in the wake of an independent review that found that safety had become “subservient to research demands.”

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