The SSC is a tool developed by the WHO as part of its "Safe Surgery Saves Lives" campaign, introduced in 2008, with the primary purpose of improving patient safety during surgical procedures.
Aim: minimise chances of errors and complications + improve teamwork and communication in surgery
There are 3 phases of the SSC:
| Phase |
Description |
| Sign in |
Occur before anaesthesia induction:
- Confirms patient identity, surgical site, and planned procedure
- Assess allergy status, airway risks, anticipated blood loss risk, availability of necessary equipment and monitoring
- Verify if the patient has given informed consent
|
| Time out |
Occur before the first skin incision
- Allow prophylactic antibiotic administration
- Re-confirm patient identity, surgical site and procedure
|
| Sign out |
Occur before the patient leaves the operating room
- The team confirms completion of instrument, sponge, and needle counts to avoid retained surgical items
- The procedure performed is documented, and specimen labelling is confirmed if applicable
- Review postoperative plans, including patient recovery and care instructions
|
