Structured communication tools are being used increasingly to prevent critical communication failures. This study evaluated the impact of an interprofessional preoperative checklist briefing and discovered a significant three-fold reduction in communication breakdowns. While past studies have similarly demonstrated benefits from improved communication in the operating room, this is the first to directly observe how briefings affect team communication. An invited critique, led by Drs. Pronovost and Makary, accompanies the study and applauds the authors' efforts to rigorously evaluate a communication tool.