Press Releases

"We are honored to be recognized by the Tampa Bay Technology Forum," says Richard C. Karl, M.D., founder of Surgical Safety Institute. "Our company has sought to be on the cutting edge of technology - developing tools and training to make a difference in healthcare. Modeled from successful aviation safety techniques, we have used software in combination with our expert training courses to set up a system that can effectively decrease the chances of surgical error."

"The quality and diversity of the firms and individuals nominated for this year's Industry Achievement Award was outstanding," says Andy Hafer, president and chief executive officer of TBTF. "The finalists selected are excellent examples of the wealth of innovation, talent and community involvement present in Tampa Bay's technology industry."

Surgical Safety Institute was founded in 2004. Recognizing that the Institute of Medicine (an advisory group to the U.S. government charged with examination of policy matters pertaining to public health) has estimated that as many as 98,000 patients die each year in U.S. hospitals due to adverse events that are caused by error, Surgical Safety Institute was inspired by the success of aviation safety techniques that are mandated by the Federal Aviation Administration.

With a team of aviation experts, physicians, nurses and computer programmers, Surgical Safety Institute modified aviation crew resource management techniques and human factors training and incorporated them into a patent pending Surgical Safety System. This system, with its Surgical Safety Checklists on wireless tablet PC's and Surgical Safety Screens on flat-panel monitors in the OR, allow for a streamlined and standardized information delivery system for every surgical patient - something that currently does not exist in most ORs.

The benefits of the Surgical Safety Institute program are increased operating room efficiencies and reduced turnover time, as well as reliable evidence-based algorithms for the management of unusual OR situations. Because the programs are straightforward and the operating team is communicating and working from a single source of patient data, there is less room for human error.

Surgical Safety Institute will conduct its first Beta trial of the Surgical Safety System before the end of this year at St. Anthony's Healthcare in St. Petersburg, FL. The company will participate as exhibitors at this year's national conference of the Institute of Healthcare Improvement in Orlando, FL, Dec. 10-12. For more information about Surgical Safety Institute, visit www.surgicalsafetyinstitute.com.

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