
While this is a form for professionals to use, it is important for patients and advocates to be aware of the steps that should be taken to ensure their safety during surgery.
The World Health Organization (WHO) Safe Surgery Checklist identifies three phases of an operation – Before the induction of anesthesia (“sign in”), before the incision of the skin (“time out”) and before the patient leaves the operating room (“sign out”). In each phase, a checklist coordinator must confirm that the surgery team has completed the listed tasks before it proceeds with the operation.