The World Health Organization (WHO) has developed a checklist which minimizes the risk of surgical complications.

The HELIOS hospitals, which are among the centers where doctors of the Athletikum Group operate, are now the first hospitals in Germany to commit themselves to the checklists for all surgical procedures, after a successful trial period. Dr. Michael Lehmann says: “We always use the most effective methods and maintain the highest standards in our work, so we are delighted that HELIOS has introduced this tool. The checklists give all those who take part in the operation and the patients an extra measure of security.”

The HELIOS hospitals were involved with the development of the WHO checklist. Experts from the HELIOS medical specialist groups have adapted the checklist to the practice here, developing additional tools to monitor patients throughout the operation process.

The first checklist is used for interdisciplinary assessment of the risk before an operation, and is based on the medical history and the findings. Immediately before the surgical procedure, during it and afterwards a second checklist is used to validate all the necessary preconditions and individual steps in the procedure. Work on a third checklist is underway; this will monitor the patient closely after the operation, and is to be implemented from 2010.

As of April 24, 2009

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