Thursday, October 1, 2009

Surgical Checklist Developed

Ontario hospitals may soon be required to use a surgical safety checklist and report on their compliance starting next spring.

It's all part of the government plan to improve patient safety.

Hospitals already report on eight indicators of patient safety, such as C-difficile rates and hand washing.

The new rules -- to be announced today -- will require hospitals to report publicly twice a year on whether they're following the checklist.