WHO Surgical Safety Checklist testing across the US

Click on the map to see the hospitals that have reported they have tested, are rolling out, or have fully implemented the WHO Surgical Safety Checklist.  To be included on the map, complete the newly updated survey.

Congratulations on helping to dramatically shorten the time (reportedly an average of 17 years) between the publication of a well-researched advancement and when patients reap the benefits!

The following states have committed to supporting testing of the WHO Surgical Safety Checklist: Alabama, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Massachusetts, Missouri,New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin.

IHI is continuing to track national progress of hospitals testing and implementing the Checklist.  To get on the map, test the WHO Surgical Safety Checklist (or an adaptation of it) at least one time with one operating room team and complete a five-minute survey.

Move from testing to implementation and share your experiences with using the Checklist with IHI and other facilities around the globe on the WHO Surgical Safety Checklist blog. Post questions, stories, tips, and any other comments.  Tell us your concerns and help others overcome barriers.

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New Resources

View the brief video clip of a surgical checklist being used on the TV show "ER."

Download a customizable press release template to let your local media know you're using the WHO Surgical Safety Checklist.

Frequently Asked Questions about the WHO Surgical Safety Checklist

Discussions about the Surgical Safety Checklist

Health Policy and Communications Blog, March 16, 2009:  Quality, checklists, patient education, the TV show ER, and comparative effectiveness

Spreading good practice (blog from UK spread expert Sarah Fraser), February 18, 2009:  Surgical safety checklist sprint 10th March 2009

BNET Healthcare, January 27, 2009:  IHI Launches Surgical Checklist Campaign

BNET Healthcare, January 26, 2009:  Hospitals vs. Doctors:  Can They Work Together to Avoid Medical Errors?

The Boston Globe “White Coat Notes” blog, January 16, 2008: Checking on the safety checklist

The Wall Street Journal "Health Blog," January 15, 2009:  A Simple Surgical Checklist Saves Lives

Running a Hospital (blog from Paul Levy, President and CEO of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston), January 15, 2009: What does it take?

The Boston Globe “Short White Coat” medical student blog, January 14, 2009: Fewer surgical complications? Check. And sign us up.

Doing common things uncommonly well (blog from Anna Roth, COO of Contra Costa Regional Medical Center, Martinez, CA), January 7, 2009:  Off and Running:  Following up on the Sprint

Media Coverage

The Canadian Press, March 15, 2009: "ER" use of surgical checklist thrill to research team behind safety program

Nurse.com, February 23, 2009:  Nurses, physicians encouraged to use surgical safety checklist

The Daily Transcript (San Diego), February 11, 2009: New surgical safety checklist to reduce deaths and complications

The Washington Post, February 10, 2009:  A skeptic becomes a true believer

The Boston Globe (Editorial), January 28, 2009:  Lifesaving list

The Oregonian (Editorial), January 28, 2009: Message to surgeons - Cut it out

The Boston Globe, January 15, 2009: Safety list cuts surgery deaths

Tools & Resources

WHO Surgical Safety Checklist Materials tab:  Includes the Surgical Safety Checklist starter kit, Surgical Safety Checklist Sprint FAQs, selected bibliography, call recordings, instructional videos, and other tools and resources.

SCOAP website: The Surgical Care and Outcome Assessment Program (SCOAP) is an initiative of the Foundation for Health Care Quality in Seattle, Washington.

Watch the video "World Health Organization Surgical Safety Checklist," an informative session with Dr. Atul Gawande from the IHI 20th Annual National Forum on Quality Improvement in Health Care in Nashville, Tennessee on December 10, 2008. [30:07]