A better surgical experience starts here.

What patients can expect from the Surgical Safety Checklist.

additional information With these steps, we are helping ensure your continued comfort, safety, and wellbeing before, during, and after your operation. If you would like additional information related to the Surgical Safety Checklist, please visit:

Canadian patient safety insitute www.patientsafetyinstitute.ca

World HealtH organization www.who.int/patientsafety/safesurgery/ss_checklist/en/

The following organizations support the Surgical Safety Checklist:

• WorldHealthOrganization

• CanadianPatientSafetyInstitute

• HealthInsuranceReciprocalofCanada

• AccreditationCanada

• OperatingRoomNursesAssociationofCanada

• CanadianAnesthesiologists’Society

• RoyalCollegeofPhysiciansandSurgeonsofCanada

Surgical Safety Checklist Your surgical team uses many tools to perform safe, comfortable procedures. The Surgical Safety Checklist is one of those tools. It is a list of questions and processes the team uses to verify information before, during, and after the operation. It has become an industry standard used bymanyorganizationsworldwide.UsingthistoolispartoftheWinnipegHealthRegion’scontinuedefforttoenhanceyour experience as a patient.

UnderstandingWe want you to be comfortable during your surgical experience and knowing what to expect is part of that. When using the Surgical Safety Checklist, the surgical team will ask you for information and confirm information. These steps are part of making sure you are comfortable and safe.

As a patient, here is what you can expect from this:

information gatHering periodBefore your procedure, members of the surgical team will visit you. They can include the anesthesiologist, surgeon, and nurses. They will ask you questions related to your operation. You may be asked to repeat the same information more than once. They will ask: • Ifyouhaveallergiesorprecautionstheyneedtoconsider• Youranestheticneeds• Thewardorunityouwillbetakentoaftertheoperation• Iftheoperationisonaspecificsideofyourbody,orata

certain level on your body, they will ask you where your surgery is to be completed. The place will be initialed with marker.Itwillwashoffafterward.

Confirmation periodBefore starting the surgery, the surgical team will confirm the informationthey’vegathered.Ifyoureceivespinalanesthetic,localanesthetic, or receive conscious sedation for your operation, you may hear them confirming: • Yourname,procedure,andsideorleveloftheoperation

(when applicable)• Anynecessaryprecautionsfortheprocedure

debriefing periodOncetheoperationisover,thesurgicalteamwilltalkaboutit.Liketheconfirmationperiod,ifyou’vereceivedspinalanesthetic,localanesthetic, or receive conscious sedation you may hear the team talking about:• Youroperationanditsoutcome.• Thecareyoureceivebeforeyouleavetheoperatingroom.

A better surgical experience starts here.