Error Reduction in the New World

How we can improve the level of safety for everyone in our operating rooms

Abstract

The world changed in many ways on September 11th. While many horrific events have occurred in the past we in North America had not really experienced the deep, far reaching, impact of such events until this past September. Terror, fear and anger are only some of the emotions we felt. Perhaps we can now better relate to some of the feelings experienced by our patients, and their families, after a serious injury or death due to errors in our facilities. We already know the devastation that results from a serious surgical error. But how can we reduce both the errors and the near misses?