@article{14881, author = {Nikhil Panda and James C Etheridge and Takshveer Singh and Yves Sonnay and George Molina and Barbara K. Burian and Nina Capo-Chichi and Christy E. Cauley and David A. H de Beer and Miliard Derbew and Roger D. Dias and Mary C Fearon and Mekdes Daba Feyssa and Kathryn Hagen and Manoj Kumar and Tihitena Negussie Mammo and Edward R. Mariano and Alan Merry and Barbara Mushayandebvu and Mary T Nabukenya and Milind Shah and Lisa Spruce and Thomas G. Weiser and Mary E Brindle}, title = {The WHO Surgical Safety Checklist and the COVID-19 pandemic: recommendations for content and implementation adaptations}, abstract = {Abstract Background As surgical systems are forced to adapt and respond to new challenges, so should the patient safety tools within those systems. We sought to determine how the WHO SSC might best be adapted during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods 18 Panelists from five continents and multiple clinical specialties participated in a three-round modified Delphi technique to identify potential recommendations, assess agreement with proposed recommendations and address items not meeting consensus. Results From an initial 29 recommendations identified in the first round, 12 were identified for inclusion in the second round. After discussion of recommendations without consensus for inclusion or exclusion, four additional recommendations were added for an eventual 16 recommendations. Nine of these recommendations were related to checklist content, while seven recommendations were related to implementation. Conclusions This multinational panel has identified 16 recommendations for sites looking to use the surgical safety checklist during the COVID-19 pandemic. These recommendations provide an example of how the SSC can adapt to meet urgent and emerging needs of surgical systems by targeting important processes and encouraging critical discussions. }, year = {2021}, journal = {World J Surg}, volume = {45}, pages = {1293-1296}, month = {02/2021}, issn = {0364-2313}, doi = {10.1007/s00268-021-06000-y}, }