Surgical Safety Checklist (SSC)

The SSC is a patient safety communication tool that is used by a team of operating room professionals (nurses, surgeons, anaesthesiologists, and others) to discuss important details about each surgical case.  In many ways, the surgical checklist is similar to an airline pilot’s checklist used just before take-off.  It is a final check prior to surgery used to make sure everyone knows the important medical information they need to know about the patient, all equipment is available and in working order, and everyone is ready to proceed. How can you help? The team will be saying your name, date of birth, allergies, and other key pieces of information in order to ensure your safety.  You are encouraged to ask questions and seek clarification if there is something that you don’t understand.

The percent compliance is calculated as follows:

Formulae: # of times all three phases of the surgical safety checklist were performed x 100.

What is the SSC rate at TDMH?

Note: AHI does not offer surgical services, below you will find SSCs rates for TDMH Surgical Procedures.

Quarter	2023 Rate	2024 Rate	2025 Rate
Jan – Mar	99.7%	98.0%	100%
April – June	99.8%	92.3%
July – Sept	97.9%	95%
Oct – Dec	93.7%	92.9%

 

Surgical Site Infection Surveillance (SSI)

Hospitals that perform hip and/or knee joint replacement surgeries are required by the Ministry of Health to publicly report their surgical site infection prevention percentages on a quarterly basis.

Patient safety remains the most important priority for TDMH and this involves ensuring that patients are not at risk for contracting health care-associated infections.

We have a number of practices in place to help prevent surgical site infections, including administering antibiotics to patients at a certain time before their surgery.

What is a Surgical Site Infection?

A surgical site infection (SSI) occurs at the site of a surgical incision. Germs can get into the incision area and cause an infection. It can develop within 60 days of an operation, or sometimes even up to one year if an implant (such as a knee or hip joint implant) is used.

Infections can be minor, or occasionally they can increase complications that result in a longer length of stay in the hospital, or an increased readmission rate for patients.  Post-operative SSIs are the most common health care-associated infections in surgical patients.

What can patients do to help reduce their chances of infection?

Follow the pre-operation instructions given to you by your surgeon and health care team.

Frequent hand cleaning is another way to prevent the spread of infection. Hand hygiene involves everyone in the hospital, including patients.

AHI does not offer surgical services, below you will find SSIs rates for TDMH Hips and Knee Joint Replacements

Quarter	2023 Rate	2024 Rate	2025 Rate
Jan – Mar	100%	100%	94% (1 case)
April – June	100%	100%	100%
July – Sept	100%	100%	/
Oct – Dec	100%	100%	/