Surgical safety checklists

Have you started using a surgical safety checklist (as required by Medicare's quality reporting program), and is this kept as part of the patient's chart?

Started by: Trish Baker (Director, Surgical Services/Director of Nursing) at December 5, 2011 (11:27 am)

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We formulated a checklist that is a combination of AORNs and WHOs checklists. We have also incorporated the CMS core measures in order to capture them. We will soon add a fire safety component.

Lauri D. (Director, Surgical Services/Director of Nursing) at January 3, 2012 (10:12 am)

We have several forms that we have already been using that incorporate the components of the safety checklist. All of them are part of the chart. As far as I can tell, CMS guidelines do not specify how you do a checklist just that you have the safety items they are looking for....am I interpreting this correctly?

M. Peterson (Director, Surgical Services/Director of Nursing) at December 27, 2011 (5:44 pm)

We already have an implemented Surgical Safety Checklist that was January, 2011. The new WHO/CMS guidelines are laminated and posted in our surgical suites as a constant reminder for the 2012 implementation and the importance of compliance. Staff have been thoroughly trained on utilization of the new process checklist.

J. R., RN, Administrator
ASC, North Carolina

J A R. (Administrator/Director/Manager/Owner/Exec. Officer) at December 27, 2011 (12:00 pm) [last edited on December 27, 2011 (12:01 pm)]

We are in the process testing and training our staff on the surgical safety checklist. A checklist will be laminated and posted in each OR for the team to reference to. An additional statement will be added to our OR record stating "safety checklist complete" and the nurse will check. All items per CMS requirement will be covered and we plan to implement Jan. 1st.

lisa c. (OR Manager/Supervisor) at December 19, 2011 (7:49 pm)

We have had a checklist that each nurse is responsible to fill in their initials. I am not sure where it originated, but includes pre-call info,Admit checklist of consents signed, orders, Hx in the chart, lab work ordered and arrived. NPO status, name of ride home. OR lines and PACU check list. However, during audits we find consents unsigned and yet the nurses have initialed that they were done. We tell them not to blank list their part but it does happen.

C. Vick (Other) at December 6, 2011 (4:36 pm)

We also combined the WHO and AORN check lists document that is a part of the medical record. When CMS states that they want 100% of our surgical procedures to utilize this check list to be in compliance, what better way to prove that we are than to have them on every chart. We then do a chart a regular chart audit to check for accuracy and completeness.

C. Shubert (Director, Surgical Services/Director of Nursing) at December 6, 2011 (2:41 pm)

We have been using a checklist for several years as well. It was adapted from the AORN version to meet our own needs including quality measures. It is part of the Medical Record and is utilized for every patient (we are multi-specialty).

D. Weigel (Administrator/Director/Manager/Owner/Exec. Officer) at December 6, 2011 (2:12 pm)

We had a dry erase board made for each OR that is 4'X 5' that the circ. nurse writes on specifically for that procedure. We combined AORN, WHO checklists and added our own checks including fire hazard checks, checking the patient position for safety, patient allergies, weight, and any concerns that need all OR staff to be aware of.

Ermel H. (Director, Surgical Services/Director of Nursing) at December 6, 2011 (12:28 pm)

Excellent idea. Mimics the preflight check both inside and outside the cockpit. A regulatory mandate for same is coming down the pike.

Albert B Kapstrom (Other) at December 6, 2011 (11:14 am)

We have used a checklist for a couple of years. We do keep it as part of the medical record. We also have had large wall posters (3' x 5') made and are having them hung in each OR for the surgical team to use when they perform the time out. We are hoping for a uniform way for all surgeons to perform the time-out procedure.

Pat S. (Director, Surgical Services/Director of Nursing) at December 6, 2011 (10:30 am)

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