Enhancing surgical safety using digital multimedia technology

• Pilot-study of a multimedia time-out designed to improve performance.
• Increased employee satisfaction.
• Improved compliance with essential checklist components.
• Eighty-Seven percent of respondents preferred the multimedia time out.
• May reduce checkbox fatigue, improve team communication, and enhance surgical care.

BackgroundThe purpose of this study was to examine whether incorporating digital and video multimedia components improved surgical time-out performance of a surgical safety checklist.MethodsA prospective pilot study was designed for implementation of a multimedia time-out, including a patient video. Perceptions of the staff participants were surveyed before and after intervention (Likert scale: 1, strongly disagree to 5, strongly agree).ResultsEmployee satisfaction was high for both time-out procedures. However, employees appreciated improved clarity of patient identification (P < .05) and operative laterality (P < .05) with the digital method. About 87% of the respondents preferred the digital version to the standard time-out (75% anesthesia, 89% surgeons, 93% nursing). Although the duration of time-outs increased (49 and 79 seconds for standard and digital time-outs, respectively, P > .001), there was significant improvement in performance of key safety elements.ConclusionThe multimedia time-out allows improved participation by the surgical team and is preferred to a standard time-out process.