What is the aim of using a surgical safety checklist?

The primary aim of using a surgical safety checklist is to lower the risk of errors and complications. This structured tool is designed to ensure that critical steps in the surgical process are consistently followed, which helps to prevent omissions that could lead to serious patient harm. The checklist addresses essential areas such as confirming the patient's identity, marking the surgical site, verifying equipment and surgical instruments, and enhancing communication among the surgical team. By providing a standardized protocol, the checklist fosters an environment of safety and accountability that significantly reduces the likelihood of adverse events during surgery.

While enhancing the surgical team's efficiency, reducing the surgery length, and expediting patient recovery are important aspects of surgical care, these are secondary benefits that can arise from improved safety practices. However, the foremost goal remains the mitigation of potential errors that can lead to complications, thereby ensuring the patient's safety and the success of the procedure.