Implementing Crew Resources Management Principles to Improve Perioperative Safety

Over the past few decades, safety in operating rooms improved significantly; nevertheless, more needs to be done to decrease the overall harm (morbidity and/or mortality) to surgical patients. With more than 230 million surgeries performed annually around the globe and mortality rate ranging from 0.4% to 10% in developing countries, it is essential to redesign systems in place and introduce new tools to improve perioperative patient safety. Given the remarkable safety track record of the aviation industry, there has been a great interest in healthcare to study the safety practices in the airlines industry and implement some of the relevant lessons learned to improve patient safety. This chapter defines essential safety requirements that are patient focused such as the following (1) competent leadership, (2) evidence-based processes, and (3) effective communication. It focuses on applying crew management principles to improve safety in the operating rooms.