ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To provide evidence of a well-structured information transfer that prevents the loss of information relevant to patient care. DESIGN: Pre-post cohort study on the implementation of a surgical checklist from the operating room to postanesthesia care unit. METHODS: Main variable was the transfer of relevant and correct information. The secondary variables include time, interruptions, and satisfaction. FINDINGS: In the prechecklist stage, 59 transfers were collected; with an average time of 68.5 seconds, 41.7% of the transfers encountered interruptions, and only 8.5% of the reports were complete with all data. After instituting the checklist, 63 transfers were analyzed with an average time of 96.4 seconds, no interruptions occurred in 71.3% of the transfers, and all the items were transmitted in 92.1% of the cases. Number of interferences decreased. Transfer time increased significantly, but 80.3% of staff found the checklist useful. CONCLUSIONS: A written and structured checklist minimizes the loss of relevant information, thus improving safety in the process.