From NBC Nightly News (14 Jan 09)

Doctor's acting like pilots in the operating room;

There are 100,000 preventable deaths and post-operation complications every year in hospitals across the US. Doctors are taking a page from pilots in the use of checklists for pre-surgery and even during surgery. The surgeon will come in to speak to the patient and check name, medical problem/procedure and even use his signature to mark the area of concern (left hip for example).

A current study had hoped to find enough patients to show a 15% decrease but the study has shown a 36% decrease in deaths and complication.

Before the surgery, the circulating nurse will check the identification of the surgeon and then at some point call a time-out and check with everyone once more on all critical aspects of the surgery. One good aspect of this according to the doctors in the study is the hierarchy is flattened out in the opearting room and anyone can speak up at anytime if they have any questions on any plan or procedure (think CRM in the way that the surgeon is no longer the only voice in the opearting room)

It seems that two professions can learn from each other. Bravo!

NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams: News and videos from the evening broadcast NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams: News and videos from the evening broadcast- msnbc.com

USMCFLYR

PS.....imagine pilots making mistakes that result in 100,000 injuries or deaths per year! It makes me appreciate that other news story about US airlines not having a single fatality in over two years. Way to go professionals!