The medical team at Chicago Mercy Hospital is reviewing their preoperative procedures and checklist in light of issues at other hospitals. A meeting will be held on May 22nd to discuss potential additions to the written procedures and determine where specific items should be placed on the preoperative surgical checklist, such as ensuring signed forms and tests are complete. The team aims to have one of the most thorough preoperative checklists in the region.

1. Chicago Mercy Hospital
To: Fred Médard
From: Juliette Danner
Date: May 17, 2008
Re: PREOPERATIVE PROCEDURES
At the last meeting of the medical team, concern was raised about the structure of
preoperative procedures. In light of recent nationwide occurrences in some city hospitals,
members of the team decided to review written procedures to determine if additional
steps should be added. A meeting of the surgical team has been set for Tuesday, May 22.
Please try to arrange surgical schedules so a majority of the surgical team can attend this
meeting.
Please review the following items to determine where each should be positioned in a
preoperative surgical checklist:
 Necessary operative forms are signed—admissions and consent for surgery.
 Blood tests have been completed.
 Blood type is noted in patient chart.
 Surgical procedure has been triple-checked with patient and surgical team.
 All allergies are noted in patient chart.
 Anesthesiologist has reviewed and initialed patient chart.
I am confident that the medical team will discover that the preoperative checklist is one of
the most thorough in the region. Any suggestions made by the medical team will only
enhance a superior checklist.
ecr:ch02ex05a, Watermark
CONFIDENTIAL