Highlights:

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The Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association (BCBSA), a national federation of 39 independent, community-based and locally operated Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies, is working with network providers (comprised of more than 90 percent of U.S. hospitals) and Blue members, to implement the WHO Surgical Safety Checklist.  For more information regarding BCBSA's efforts, please visit www.bcbs.com/bluepatientsafety.




Safe Surgery Checklist highlighted on NBC's ER.  Click here to learn more and to view a larger version of the clip.

General News:

1/2010: The inaugural Safe Surgery Saves Lives Newsletter is published.  Click here to see a copy.

10/2009: The University Hospital Network's Toronto General Hospital created a video to document their experience using the Checklist

6/2009: Joint Commission clarifies Universal Protocol compliance

**Pilot Site Applications for the Global Pulse Oximetry pilot study are due on May 15, 2009**

4/21/09: Dr. Gawande's James Reason Lecture available online

3/12/09: Safe Surgery Checklist highlighted on NBC's ER

1/14/09: NEJM publishes results of checklist pilot study

Regional Updates:

AFRO (Africa)
-Click here to read about the efforts of the International Organization for Women and Development to bring the checklist to Niger.

EMRO (Eastern Mediterranean)
- The EMRO Regional Launch was held on June 22 and 23 in Amman, Jordan.  Representatives from all but two countries in the region were in attendance, and Dr. Gawande gave a keynote address.  Read more here.

EURO (Europe)
- Click here to watch a video about use of the checklist by the HELIOS group in Germany.

PAHO (the Americas)
- On December 9, 2009, Secretary of Health José Ángel Córdova Villalobos launched a nationwide Safe Surgery Campaign in Mexico.
- Dissemination in the United States was led by the IHI.  Click here to learn more.

SEARO (South-East Asia)
- In November, 2009, Atul Gawande spoke about the WHO Safe Surgery Saves Lives Program at the Indian Confederation of Healthcare Accreditation (ICHA) convention on patient safety.  Click here to learn more.

WPRO (Western Pacific)
- On November 15-17, 2009, the Malaysian Ministry of Health will launch a national Safe Surgery Saves Lives Campaign.