RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Deficiencies in daily ward rounds are increasingly identified. A ward safety checklist has recently been devised to improve the fast-paced surgical ward round. METHODS: Over 2 weeks the morning post-take surgical ward round was evaluated using the ward safety checklist. In order to avoid the Hawthorne effect, doctors involved were not aware their performance was being observed. RESULTS: One hundred patient encounters were evaluated. The three phases of the card safety checklist showed statistically significant improvement but for many components compliance was below 100%. CONCLUSION: Implementing this simple checklist has provided our unit with a starting point in how to overcome some of the deficiencies of the post-take surgical ward round.
