Try the WHO checklist for one day in one operating theatre by December 15, 2009

DID YOU KNOW . . . nurses worldwide have played a critical role in promoting a simple checklist that reduces complications and mortality associated with a variety of surgical procedures by more than 30 percent Since the launch of the World Health Organization’s Surgical Safety Checklist in 2008 nurses have brought the checklist to over 1,800 facilities representing 86 countries around the globe with more than 15 countries mobilizing their efforts to implement the checklist at a national level. The rapid spread of the checklist can be attributed to the efforts of nurses who were willing to bring the checklist to their operating rooms, hospitals, and professional networks.

The Safe Surgery Saves Lives Programme is now inviting you to change the face of surgery and join the ranks of these champions by bringing the checklist to your hospital. Specifically, we are asking you to identify one enthusiastic surgical team to trial the checklist for one day in one operating theatre by December 15, 2009 and to give us feedback on how this tool worked for you and your colleagues by registering on WHO website.

To trial the checklist or to learn more about this project simply register your hospital online by clicking here. We have a host of related materials available for download at our websites: www.who.int/safesurgery and www.safesurg.org. If you have already started using the checklist, we would love to hear about your experiences using this tool. You can write to: safesurgery@hsph.harvard.edu. Please don't hesitate to contact us with any questions about this programme.