Surgical Safety Checklist Compliance Rates

At LHSC, patient safety is our priority and we strongly support the use of Surgical Safety Checklists as a tool to enhance communications and safety in the operating.

A surgical safety checklist is a communication tool to help the surgical team (i.e., surgeon, anaesthetist, nurse, etc.) discuss important details of a patient’s case at three key phases of the surgery:

  1. Before the patient is given anaesthesia (briefing phase)
  2. Before the operation is started (time out phase)
  3. Before the surgery is finished (debriefing phase)

Safety checks are used in every surgery at LHSC.

To learn more about checklists, click the Frequently Asked Questions page.

The surgical safety checklist is publicly reported twice a year. 


Official Reporting Periods

January 1 - June 30, 2023

The surgical safety checklist compliance rate for the reporting period of January 1 to June 30, 2023 is:

  • 99.87% for University Hospital
  • 99.76% for Victoria Hospital

This means all three phases of the checklist were fully completed in 99.87% of all surgeries performed at University Hospital and 99.76% of all surgeries at Victoria Hospital. With the remaining cases, one or more of the elements of the checklist were not completed, such as the verbal debrief at the end of surgery.

July 1 - December 31, 2022

The surgical safety checklist compliance rate for the reporting period of July 1 to December 31, 2022 is:

  • 99.87% for University Hospital
  • 99.17% for Victoria Hospital

This means all three phases of the checklist were fully completed in 99.87% of all surgeries performed at University Hospital and 99.17% of all surgeries at Victoria Hospital. With the remaining cases, one or more of the elements of the checklist were not completed, such as the verbal debrief at the end of surgery.

January 1 - June 30, 2022

The surgical safety checklist compliance rate for the reporting period of January 1 to June 30, 2022 is:

  • 99.76% for University Hospital
  • 99.62% for Victoria Hospital

This means all three phases of the checklist were fully completed in 99.76% of all surgeries performed at University Hospital and 99.62% of all surgeries at Victoria Hospital. With the remaining cases, one or more of the elements of the checklist were not completed, such as the verbal debrief at the end of surgery.

July 1 - December 31, 2021

The surgical safety checklist compliance rate for the reporting period of July 1 to December 31, 2021 is:

99.84% for University Hospital
99.24% for Victoria Hospital
This means all three phases of the checklist were fully completed in 99.84% of all surgeries performed at University Hospital and 99.24% of all surgeries at Victoria Hospital. With the remaining cases, one or more of the elements of the checklist were not completed, such as the verbal debrief at the end of surgery

January 1 - June 30, 2021

The surgical safety checklist compliance rate for the reporting period of January 1 to June 30, 2021 is:

  • 99.85% for University Hospital
  • 99.00% for Victoria Hospital

This means all three phases of the checklist were fully completed in 99.85% of all surgeries performed at University Hospital and 99.00% of all surgeries at Victoria Hospital. With the remaining cases, one or more of the elements of the checklist were not completed, such as the verbal debrief at the end of surgery.

July 1 - December 31, 2020

The surgical safety checklist compliance rate for the reporting period of July 1 to December 31, 2020 is:

  • 99.74% for University Hospital
  • 98.80% for Victoria Hospital

This means all three phases of the checklist were fully completed in 99.74% of all surgeries performed at University Hospital and 98.80% of all surgeries at Victoria Hospital. With the remaining cases, one or more of the elements of the checklist were not completed, such as the verbal debrief at the end of surgery.

January 1 - June 30, 2020

The surgical safety checklist compliance rate for the reporting period of January 1 to June 30, 2020 is:

  • 99.75% for University Hospital
  • 97.98% for Victoria Hospital

This means all three phases of the checklist were fully completed in 99.75% of all surgeries performed at University Hospital and 97.98% of all surgeries at Victoria Hospital. With the remaining cases, one or more of the elements of the checklist were not completed, such as the verbal debrief at the end of surgery.

July 1 - December 31, 2019

The surgical safety checklist compliance rate for the reporting period of July 1 to December 31, 2019 is:

  • 99.85% for University Hospital
  • 97.88% for Victoria Hospital

This means all three phases of the checklist were fully completed in 99.85% of all surgeries performed at University Hospital and 97.88% of all surgeries at Victoria Hospital. With the remaining cases, one or more of the elements of the checklist were not completed, such as the verbal debrief at the end of surgery.

January 1 - June 30, 2019

The surgical safety checklist compliance rate for the reporting period of January 1 to June 30, 2019 is:

  • 99.86% for University Hospital
  • 97.81% for Victoria Hospital

This means all three phases of the checklist were fully completed in 99.86% of all surgeries performed at University Hospital and 97.81% of all surgeries at Victoria Hospital. With the remaining cases, one or more of the elements of the checklist were not completed, such as the verbal debrief at the end of surgery.

July 1 - December 31, 2018

The surgical safety checklist compliance rate for the reporting period of July 1 to December 31, 2018 is:

  • 99.70% for University Hospital
  • 95.74% for Victoria Hospital

This means all three phases of the checklist were fully completed in 99.7% of all surgeries performed at University Hospital and 95.74% of all surgeries at Victoria Hospital. With the remaining cases, one or more of the elements of the checklist were not completed, such as the verbal debrief at the end of surgery.

January 1 - June 30, 2018

The surgical safety checklist compliance rate for the reporting period of January 1 to June 30, 2018 is:

  • 99.74% for University Hospital
  • 95.79% for Victoria Hospital

This means all three phases of the checklist were fully completed in 99.74% of all surgeries performed at University Hospital and 95.79% of all surgeries at Victoria Hospital. With the remaining cases, one or more of the elements of the checklist were not completed, such as the verbal debrief at the end of surgery.

July 1 - December 31, 2017

The surgical safety checklist compliance rate for the reporting period of July 1 to December 31, 2017 is:

  • 99.42% for University Hospital
  • 94.53% for Victoria Hospital

This means all three phases of the checklist were fully completed in 99.42% of all surgeries performed at University Hospital and 94.53% of all surgeries at Victoria Hospital. With the remaining cases, one or more of the elements of the checklist were not completed, such as the verbal debrief at the end of surgery.

January 1 - June 30, 2017

The surgical safety checklist compliance rate for the reporting period of January 1 to June 30, 2017 is:

  • 99.71% for University Hospital
  • 97.48% for Victoria Hospital

This means all three phases of the checklist were fully completed in 99.71% of all surgeries performed at University Hospital and 97.48% of all surgeries at Victoria Hospital. With the remaining cases, one or more of the elements of the checklist were not completed, such as the verbal debrief at the end of surgery.

July 1 - December 31, 2016

The surgical safety checklist compliance rate for the reporting period of July 1 to December 31, 2016 is:

  • 99.63% for University Hospital
  • 98.08% for Victoria Hospital

This means all three phases of the checklist were fully completed in 99.63% of all surgeries performed at University Hospital and 98.08% of all surgeries at Victoria Hospital. With the remaining cases, one or more of the elements of the checklist were not completed, such as the verbal debrief at the end of surgery.

January 1 - June 30, 2016

The surgical safety checklist compliance rate for the reporting period of January 1 to June 30, 2016 is:

  • 99.49% for University Hospital
  • 98.98% for Victoria Hospital

This means all three phases of the checklist were fully completed in 99.49% of all surgeries performed at University Hospital and 98.98% of all surgeries at Victoria Hospital. With the remaining cases, one or more of the elements of the checklist were not completed, such as the verbal debrief at the end of surgery.

July 1 - December 31, 2015

The surgical safety checklist compliance rate for the reporting period of July 1 to December 31, 2015 is:

  • 99.41% for University Hospital
  • 99.37% for Victoria Hospital

This means all three phases of the checklist were fully completed in 99.41% of all surgeries performed at University Hospital and 99.37% of all surgeries at Victoria Hospital. With the remaining cases, one or more of the elements of the checklist were not completed, such as the verbal debrief at the end of surgery.

January 1 - June 30, 2015

The surgical safety checklist compliance rate for the reporting period of January 1 to June 30, 2015 is:

  • 99.54% for University Hospital
  • 99.11% for Victoria Hospital

This means all three phases of the checklist were fully completed in 99.54% of all surgeries performed at University Hospital and 99.11% of all surgeries at Victoria Hospital. With the remaining cases, one or more of the elements of the checklist were not completed, such as the verbal debrief at the end of surgery.

July 1 - December 31, 2014

The surgical safety checklist compliance rate for the reporting period of July 1 to December 31, 2014 is:

  • 99.63% for University Hospital
  • 99.15% for Victoria Hospital

This means all three phases of the checklist were fully completed in 99.63% of all surgeries performed at University Hospital and 99.15% of all surgeries at Victoria Hospital. With the remaining cases, one or more of the elements of the checklist were not completed, such as the verbal debrief at the end of surgery.

January 1 - June 30, 2014

The surgical safety checklist compliance rate for the reporting period of January 1 to June 30, 2014 is:

  • 99.68% for University Hospital
  • 99.41% for Victoria Hospital

This means all three phases of the checklist were fully completed in 99.68% of all surgeries performed at University Hospital and 99.41% of all surgeries at Victoria Hospital. With the remaining cases, one or more of the elements of the checklist were not completed, such as the verbal debrief at the end of surgery.

July 1 - December 31, 2013

The surgical safety checklist compliance rate for the reporting period of July 1 to December 31, 2013 is:

  • 99.63% for University Hospital
  • 99.45% for Victoria Hospital

This means all three phases of the checklist were fully completed in 99.63% of all surgeries performed at University Hospital and 99.45% of all surgeries at Victoria Hospital. With the remaining cases, one or more of the elements of the checklist were not completed, such as the verbal debrief at the end of surgery.

January 1 - June 30, 2013

The surgical safety checklist compliance rate for the reporting period of January 1 to June 30, 2013 is:

  • 99% for University Hospital
  • 99% for Victoria Hospital

This means all three phases of the checklist were fully completed in 99% of all surgeries performed at University Hospital and 99% of all surgeries at Victoria Hospital. With the remaining cases, one or more of the elements of the checklist were not completed, such as the verbal debrief at the end of surgery.

July 1 - December 31, 2012

The surgical safety checklist compliance rate for the reporting period of July 1 to December 31, 2012 is:

  • 99% for University Hospital
  • 99% for Victoria Hospital

This means all three phases of the checklist were fully completed in 99% of all surgeries performed at University Hospital and 99% of all surgeries at Victoria Hospital. With the remaining cases, one or more of the elements of the checklist were not completed, such as the verbal debrief at the end of surgery.

January 1 - June 30, 2012

The surgical safety checklist compliance rate for the reporting period of January 1 - June 30, 2012 is:

  • 99% for University Hospital
  • 99% for Victoria Hospital

This means all three phases of the checklist were fully completed in 99% of all surgeries performed at University Hospital and 99% of all surgeries at Victoria Hospital. With the remaining cases, one or more of the elements of the checklist were not completed, such as the verbal debrief at the end of surgery.

July 1 - December 31, 2011

The surgical safety checklist compliance rate for the reporting period of July 1 - December 31, 2011 is:

  • 99% for University Hospital
  • 99% for Victoria Hospital

This means all three phases of the checklist were fully completed in 99% of all surgeries performed at University Hospital and 99% of all surgeries at Victoria Hospital. With the remaining cases, one or more of the elements of the checklist were not completed, such as the verbal debrief at the end of surgery.

January 1 - June 30, 2011

The surgical safety checklist compliance rate for the reporting period of Januarly 1 - June 30, 2011 is:

  • 98% for University Hospital
  • 99% for Victoria Hospital

This means all three phases of the checklist were fully completed in 98% of all surgeries performed at University Hospital and 99% of all surgeries at Victoria Hospital. With the remaining cases, one or more of the elements of the checklist were not completed, such as the verbal debrief at the end of surgery.

July 1 - December 31, 2010

The surgical safety checklist compliance rate for the reporting period of July 1 - December 31, 2010 is:

  • 96% for University Hospital
  • 97% for Victoria Hospital

This means all three phases of the checklist were fully completed in 96% of all surgeries performed at University Hospital and 97% of all surgeries at Victoria Hospital. With the remaining cases, one or more of the elements of the checklist were not completed, such as the verbal debrief at the end of surgery.

April 1 to June 30, 2010

Since April 1, 2010, both University Hospital and Victoria Hospital reported an average surgical safety checklist compliance rate of 62% for the reporting period of April 1 to June 30, 2010.

This means all three phases of the checklist were fully completed in 62% of all surgeries performed at LHSC. With the remaining cases, one or more of the elements of the checklist were not completed, such as the verbal debrief at the end of surgery.

As an organization committed to patient safety, we consider the completion rate for the for this first reporting period low.