Surgical Safety Institute

Checklist. Communication. Teamwork

In surgery and in the air, the work can seem routine, yet the overall job is highly complex and unpredictable. Stress and fatigue can affect performance. And there's the challenge of working with a team of people, any one of whom could make a mistake that could ultimately end in loss of life. Then again, a member of the team could also detect an error while it can still be fixed and save the day.

July 20, 2018, 2:20 pm

News:

Dr. Richard Karl's dynamic presentation "Forty Years in Operating Rooms and Cockpits" at the Annual Cancer Symposium for the Society of Surgical Oncology is made available.

Dr. Richard Karl's article on Aviation and Medical Safety is published in the January Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery.

Airlines go two years with no fatalities

USF Health: Applying airline safety standards to the OR

Founder, Richard Karl M.D., featured in Newsweek

SSI Founder Richard Karl MD's article on safe surgery in the Bulletin of the American College of Surgeons

Surgical Safety Institute interviewed in Maclean's, Canada's Weekly News Magazine, December 4, 2006 issue

Surgical Safety Institute Recipient Of Tampa Bay Technology Forum Award

What Pilots Can Teach Hospitals About Patient Safety
- Surgical Safety Institute cited in New York Times article

Surgical Safety Institute Nominated For Emerging Technology Company of the Year award by the TBTF

Testimonials

"We look to a long relationship with you."
Vice President of Patient Safety

"The Surgical Safety System allows us to provide a higher level of safe and excellent care to our patients while still being efficient."
President, Anesthesia Consultants

"We're all working the same way, using the same information and systems. So even when I'm working next to someone I've never worked with before, our operating room is more efficient than it's ever been."
Clinical Educator, Operating Room

"The Grand Rounds that you gave was truly spectacular. It clearly is one of the most memorable ones that we've had. Since your Grand Rounds, we had a potentially preventable complication that would have been fully solved by having a "white' 'board in the OR."
Chairman, Department of Surgery

"You exceeded our expectations"
VP of Patient Safety

"Well they're (the anesthesiologists and surgeons) doing a handshake now. Next thing they'll be doing a hug!" (Said about interdisciplinary groups that previously did not cooperate. After briefings they were improving)
Clinical Educator, Operating Room

"It (briefings) has not only improved my relationship with the travelers it has improved my relationship with people I've worked with for 20 years"
Chief of Plastic Surgery

"A nurse stood her ground against a surgeon who swore the sponge was not in the patient. The surgeon became angry but she continued to hold her ground. The surgeon found the sponge in the patient. The nurse had been to your training and remembered how to assert. The surgeon apologized to the nurse the next day."
Director of Surgical Services

"Teamwork has definitely improved in the OR in no small part due to Surgical Safety Institute project, and more is planned for next year."
Professor and Chair, Department of Surgery

"Grand Round guest speaker was awesome. Dr. Karl was incredible - glad to see a surgeon/physician see the goal and respect "team" concept."
Administrative Director, Medical Affairs

"You bring a great perspective as a pilot and surgeon to the issue of safety in the operating room. Only someone like you who is close to aviation and surgery can really bring out the similarities and also the differences and the need to adopt many of the principles of safety which have been in place in aviation for many years."
Executive Director