One of the key principles is using a checklist.
Pilots Ned Piccinini and Dr. Steve Harrington always run through the same pre-flight checklist before going up in the air. Harrington said there are many similarities between the cockpit and the operating room.
“These are both highly complex team situations, and there’s a lot at stake with what you do,” said Harrington.
At Oakwood, before a surgery, all members involved in the care of a patient participate in “crew resource management” — a term and procedure borrowed from aviation.
“The only danger is complacency, and we try and avoid that at all cost,” said Siegel.
That means patients should expect the site of their surgery to be marked and verified repeatedly.
“Sometimes they (patients) don’t appreciate it. They don’t understand why the question is being asked. ‘Well you’re the surgeon, you should know.’ Then I explain to them, ‘Well yes, I’m the surgeon, but you should know as well,’” said Siegel.
Prior to every procedure, there is a time-out where everyone checks that they’re on the same page, just like the preflight checklist. The time-out also builds teamwork and is a reminder that although the surgeon may be like the captain of the plane, everyone’s input is essential to keeping the patient safe.
“That’s the check and balance we should use to be sure we comply with the right side the right patient at the right time,” said Siegel.
If at any time anyone on the team has a concern that something isn’t right, they’re empowered to stop everything. Meaning your surgery could get postponed until the question is resolved, and that’s much better than making a mistake.
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