Analysis of the time-out showed that when surgeons led time-outs, only 54 percent of surgical checklist items were completed and team members stopped to pause 78 percent of the time. When the each member of the surgical team provided a personal confirmation of time-out, checklist completion increased to 97 percent and team members stopped for the pause 96 percent of the time.
In addition, team members in the new time-out format introduced themselves 94 percent of the time, a 50 percent increase over the surgeon-led time-out.
Researchers concluded a culture of teamwork may significantly improve safety within the OR, and a team-based pre-procedural pause is an expense-free way of working toward this goal.
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