VA Teamwork Saves Lives in Surgery

A program of structured teamwork has helped to reduce surgery deaths at VA medical centers, researchers report. The program began in 2003. It changed the way surgical teams work together. Under the traditional system, surgeons were in charge and other team members not always encouraged to speak up. The new system included briefings before, during and after surgery. Before the procedure, team members went through a checklist to make sure everyone agreed on the procedure and other details. Patients said their names and what surgery they were getting. They listened to the briefing and could speak up if anything sounded wrong. In the first 74 VA hospitals to use the system, surgery deaths dropped 18% in 3 years, researchers reported. Death rates were lowest where people had the most teamwork training. The system now is in use at all VA centers.