The Benefits of Checklists in Healthcare Whitepaper

Checklists are powerful tools to standardize work processes and create independent checks.

The checklist approach has been championed in the aviation industry since the 1980s as a method to enhance safety and reduce risk. When preparing for a flight, pilots use a multi-step checklist to confirm that the flight course, weather patterns, radio set-up and other runway information have all been considered to ensure the safest flight possible.

Implementing safety protocols like checklists helped establish an atmosphere of trust where essential safety information could be shared openly and, in every instance, learned from. Where accountability—in the absence of punishment or humiliation—became the norm. Today, the risk of fatal injury on a U.S. commercial carrier is so low that being afraid to fly is a little like being afraid to go to the supermarket because the ceiling might collapse!

Similarly, well-designed checklists with high compliance of use can result in more efficient and effective medical practice that improves patient safety, quality of care, and financial benefits for healthcare organizations.

As reimbursements are increasingly scrutinized and healthcare shifts toward value-based care models, healthcare organizations must continuously improve efficiencies and streamline organizational processes. Checklists in healthcare provide a fantastic foundation for this type of systemic improvement. With strong checklists in healthcare, organizations can:

• Promote more effective patient rounding
• Improve quality monitoring
• Prevent healthcare-acquired infections
• Prevent falls
• Support strict adherence to hand hygiene
• Minimize environment of care risks

Having a clearly defined checklist in place helps keep busy staff members on track with safety protocols and keeps care teams focused on providing the highest quality care.

Using a digital patient safety checklist is often more effective than a mental to-do list because it prevents important safety precautions from being overlooked. Along with improving patient safety, checklists create a greater sense of confidence that processes are completed accurately and thoroughly.

Ready to learn more about how an incident management system can help your organization use checklists for a data-informed approach towards safety and quality? Set up a call with our team to learn how our software can help you meet your goals.