Newswise — The American Society of Anesthesiologists commends the World Health Organization for taking a leadership role in perioperative patient safety with the development of the Safe Surgery Initiative and the implementation of the WHO Surgical Safety Checklist.
ASA enthusiastically endorses the "Safe Surgery Saves Lives" global support initiative and joins the WHO in a continued search for meaningful ways to make the surgical experience completely safe and error free in operating rooms worldwide.
The WHO Surgical Safety Checklist seeks to improve the safety of patients undergoing surgical procedures around the world by promoting a team approach for avoidance of infection, complication or error by ensuring that the proper operation has been prepared for and is performed.
"As the patient advocates in the operating room, ASA's 43,000 membership has a long history of dedicated service to patient safety," said Roger A. Moore, M.D., ASA Presidet-Elect. "ASA is continually evaluating methods to improve patient care and now supports WHO, endorsing the use of checklists to improve surgery and patient safety for all surgical procedures."
The WHO Surgical Safety Checklist grew in part out of a checklist created by ASA member Peter J. Pronovost, M.D., of Johns Hopkins University to reduce infections in hospitals.
"As the number of surgical procedures performed each year increases, it is imperative that all surgical team members work together to reduce the chance for errors, infection and death related to surgery and improve the surgical experience for patients worldwide," Moore added.
For more information visit the ASA Web site at http://www.asahq.org
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