PRB
February 14th, 2010, 06:48
Any medical people out there? What do you think of this?
I'm watching the news this morning, and they had a guest who wrote a book about how the use of checklists in hospitals that can, and evidently is, saving lives. The author/guest is the maker of the checklist and the promoter of the “movement” which is apparently “afoot” to make doctors use them. Simple checklists, such as “1) sterilize needle. 2) insert needle”. Step 1 being important that it be completed before step 2, you see... And also, presumably, check lists for more complex, but routine, procedures.
But what has this to do with flight sims and airplanes, you ask? Well, he says he has data to support the claim that hospitals using these checklists have fewer deaths in the operating rooms. But most interesting, is a story he tells about a hospital that said it was “using” his checklist system, but didn't report fewer instances of OR deaths. He asked the head nurse “would a brand new nurse be able to challenge a senior doctor in the OR if he failed to “complete step 3a”? The head nurse looked at him like he was crazy and said “heck no!!”
And this reminded me of the 1970s, when the whole “team concept” for flight crews in airlines began. Remember this? The imperious captain did not take orders from a mere co-pilot. The co-pilot will shut up and do as he is told, and he may not question anything the captain does! Co-pilot checklist: 1) The Captain Is Right. 2) If in doubt, refer to Step 1!
It is now “generally agreed” that the current “team concept” is “better” at preventing crashes than the old way, right? Because even imperious captians can make mistakes, and the rest of the flight crew should be able to feel like they can point that out of it happens without suffering the imperious wrath of The Captain (and/or crashing).
So this head nurse's story suggests the medical community might be able to learn a concept or two from the airline industry...
I'm watching the news this morning, and they had a guest who wrote a book about how the use of checklists in hospitals that can, and evidently is, saving lives. The author/guest is the maker of the checklist and the promoter of the “movement” which is apparently “afoot” to make doctors use them. Simple checklists, such as “1) sterilize needle. 2) insert needle”. Step 1 being important that it be completed before step 2, you see... And also, presumably, check lists for more complex, but routine, procedures.
But what has this to do with flight sims and airplanes, you ask? Well, he says he has data to support the claim that hospitals using these checklists have fewer deaths in the operating rooms. But most interesting, is a story he tells about a hospital that said it was “using” his checklist system, but didn't report fewer instances of OR deaths. He asked the head nurse “would a brand new nurse be able to challenge a senior doctor in the OR if he failed to “complete step 3a”? The head nurse looked at him like he was crazy and said “heck no!!”
And this reminded me of the 1970s, when the whole “team concept” for flight crews in airlines began. Remember this? The imperious captain did not take orders from a mere co-pilot. The co-pilot will shut up and do as he is told, and he may not question anything the captain does! Co-pilot checklist: 1) The Captain Is Right. 2) If in doubt, refer to Step 1!
It is now “generally agreed” that the current “team concept” is “better” at preventing crashes than the old way, right? Because even imperious captians can make mistakes, and the rest of the flight crew should be able to feel like they can point that out of it happens without suffering the imperious wrath of The Captain (and/or crashing).
So this head nurse's story suggests the medical community might be able to learn a concept or two from the airline industry...