In the video above, Atul Gawande, a surgeon at Bringham & Women's Hospital, explains his idea for a 19 point hospital checklist. His checklist is something surgeons, doctors and nurses can use to prevent mistakes, infections and deaths during hospital stays. His checklist was initially tested in 8 hospital worldwide. In these 8 hospitals there was a 1/3 reduction in infections and deaths during surgery. A hospital in Michigan implemented the checklist and saw a 2/3 reduction of infections, saved 1,500 lives and over 200 million dollars.
This checklist is being used in less than 1/4 of U.S. hospitals. Imagine if this was required by all hospitals? Hospital infections are negative externalities that cost the health care system a ton of money. A low cost solution like Atul's could save a lot of lives and money.
Are there other simple fixes like Atul Gawande's checklist that can contribute to lower health care spending? Can an idea as simple as a checklist really save lives and money?
sort of reminds me of the argument above about computer/technology taking over from personal car from a physician. In that argument, I belive a doctor commented that too much of a computer will miss the "basics". I think a checklist goes hand in hand with personal attention that will forever be needed.
ReplyDeleteEspecially since this check list is so simple. It takes minutes to administer and it covers elements computers cannot cover (ie. having the surgery team introduce themselves & background)
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