Doctor to-do list shown to save lives

NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams—January 14, 2009

New research shows that doctors who stick with a simple pre-op checklist see a reduction in post-operative complications. NBC's Robert Bazell visited the OR at Hospital for Special Surgery previously to observe procedures that have long been in place. Surgeon-in-Chief Dr. Thomas P. Sculco is shown reviewing such a checklist with his patient prior to her hip replacement surgery. Before Dr. Sculco begins a surgery he asks some seemingly simple questions such as "Which hip am I operating on?"  Then he signs the surgical site. OR Nurse Danny Sanchez, R.N., also shows the checklist and illustrates how it is used.

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