Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Sinai is a leader in surgical safety

The Institute for Healthcare Improvement, an independent not-for-profit organization helping to lead the improvement of health care throughout the world, placed Sinai Hospital on its list of hospitals that have tested the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Surgical Safety Checklist at least once, in at least one operating room, by April 1, 2009.

According to an article published in the January 14, 2009 online edition of the New England Journal of Medicine, a WHO study that included hospitals in eight cities around the globe successfully demonstrated that use of the checklist during major operations can lower the incidence of deaths and complications by more than one third. Inpatient deaths following major operations fell by more than 40 percent with implementation of the checklist, which ensures the safe delivery of anesthesia, appropriate measures taken against infection, and effective teamwork by the operating room staff. Sinai aims to implement the checklist in all ORs by June.

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