Page 25
SAFETY
verify that nothing critical has been missed. The speed and efficiency of this method will greatly reduce the resistance you experience with implementing a checklist.
7. Make it surgeon-led
In high-reliability organizations such as commercial aviation, checklists are "owned" by the team leader — the captain of the crew. The captain uses the checklist to manage workflow and team performance. Checklists are one of the primary tools for supervising the team. Airline captains understand the value of checklists in creating teamwork, fostering communication and setting expectations that team members will be vigilant and provide safety monitoring. OSM
Mr. Harden (sharden@saferpatients.com), a former U.S. Navy TOPGUN instructor, is president of LifeWings Partners, which helps healthcare facilities implement the safety practices of such high-reliability organizations as aviation.
