Announcing the Launch of the Surgical Safety Checklist Regional Initiative (SSCLRI)
On behalf of Clinical Governance, Surgery C.A.R.E. Network Co-chairs William Orrom (Dr) and Alison Dormuth, we are excited to announce the launch of the Surgical Safety Checklist Regional Initiative (SSCLRI) wherever we have OR services.
This quality improvement project has the goal to:
- Normalize all team members conducting a comprehensive, focused and relevant Surgical Safety Checklist that is patient-centric with intent to increase patient safety,
- Provide the OR team with tools and resources to increase engagement in a psychologically safe culture for communication, and
- Provide metrics for ongoing, data driven quality improvement.
A strong, organization-endorsed Surgical Safety Checklist is critical to embedding a culture of safety, accountability, and team engagement within surgical care. This initiative not only standardizes evidence-based practices, but also strengthens psychological safety—empowering every team member to speak up, listen actively, and collaborate openly.
By building trust, enhancing communication, and promoting shared responsibility, we aim to deliver care that is safer, more reliable, and truly patient-centered, aligning with our C.A.R.E. Networks, Local Level Acute Site Quality & Operational Excellence Committees and Island Health's commitment to continuous improvement and excellence in outcomes.
Where We Are Now
Since the project kicked off in January 2025, we have successfully completed the initiating phase. A working group has been established, bringing together surgeons, anesthesiologists, OR leadership, nursing teams, and subject matter experts from all Island Health facilities offering surgical services.
Our team has been working diligently to build a strong foundation, and we are now transitioning into the next exciting phase of development. The momentum and collaboration so far have been inspiring, and we are committed to sustaining this progress.
Next Steps
Over the coming weeks and months, we will be:
- Engaging with OR teams to assess their experiences with the current Surgical Safety Checklist and gauge readiness for change—A survey has been sent to the OR teams to be completed by May 12.
- Once the survey results are analyzed, we develop the customized Change Management Strategy, Engagement and Communication Plans.
- Launching the pilot at VGH this summer, working closely with the VGH Acute Local Level Quality and Operational Excellence Committee.
- We will be developing a Surgery Intranet Page where you can follow our progress through intermittent updates.
- Evaluating outcomes and preparing for broader implementation based on lessons learned from the pilot.
We invite you to stay connected and get involved as opportunities arise.
Contact Us
For more information, to support the initiative, or to explore collaboration opportunities, please contact Brian Buchanan, Stella Harley or Afshin Shamshiri at Surgicalquality@islandhealth.ca