3 Benefits of Checklists

The proper use of checklists is known to reduce errors and improve quality of care. The Physician-Patient Alliance for Health & Safety provides three reasons why checklists are a great way to reduce preventable harms:

1. Checklists reduce the likelihood of systemic or procedural failure. A good checklist sets out possible adverse events or factors that may lead to adverse events. When properly followed, the checklist ensures these errors are avoided and healthcare providers have done their utmost for patient safety.


2. Checklists remove barriers to safety culture. Checklists allow healthcare providers to communicate on a basic level, reducing politics among different levels of providers that may cause breakdowns in safety culture.

3. Checklists clarify root causes and error communication. Having checklists helps pinpoint the source of potential medical errors and enables providers to have explanations ready for patients and patient families that may have been affected by a medical error.

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