When Atul Gawande was assigned to a World Health Organization (WHO) taskforce to improve mortality rates during surgery, the challenge felt overwhelming. Surgery is such a complex task, and no two surgeries are the same. He and other researchers looked to other fields that involve complex tasks, and discovered many manage complexity by using routine checklists. He was especially impressed with the aviation industry and the checklists they use during flights. Dr. Gawande wondered if developing simple checklists for an operation team to go through each time they perform a surgery might decrease complications and infection. Implementing their plan took a lot of effort, but the checklist they developed has saved thousands of lives. Gwande includes many examples from aviation and other fields to propose that any complex task can be improved by creating and using a well-crafted check lists.
I read this in response to a training I participated in at work. The presenter of the training challenged us to each examine what we do each day and see if using a routine checklist might help improve efficiency and eliminate human error. As I read the book and took the challenge, I realized that I already use a lot of checklists at work and in my private life. Some things like the opening and closing procedures at the library we use daily, while I make other "to-do" lists to keep me on task all week long. The book contains some depictions of surgery that might be disturbing to some because of Gawande's detailed descriptions. The story is, overall, is a little dry, but engaging enough I had no problem finishing it. (2011, 224 p)
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