The design and evaluation of a pre-procedure checklist specific to the cardiac catheterisation laboratory

Background: With the increasing complexity of procedures being performed in the cardiac catheterisation laboratory, the multidisciplinary team has the challenge of providing safe care to patients who present with a multitude of healthcare needs. Although the use of a surgical safety checklist has become standard practice in operating theatres worldwide, the use of a pre-procedure checklist has not been routinely adopted into interventional cardiology.

Objective: The aim of this study was to design and evaluate a pre-procedure checklist specific to the cardiac catheterisation laboratory.

Method: A descriptive, exploratory design was used to develop a specifically designed pre-procedure checklist for use in the cardiac catheterisation laboratory in a private hospital in Melbourne, Australia. The pre-procedure checklist was developed by exploring the multidisciplinary team's opinion regarding the organisation's previous surgical pre-procedure checklist through a pre-implementation survey and focus groups. Following an expert review, and implementation of the proposed pre-procedure checklist, a post-implementation survey was completed.

Results: Thirty-five (70%) cardiac catheterisation laboratory healthcare professionals completed the pre-implementation survey, with 31 (62%) completing the post-implementation survey. Ninety-one per cent of participants agreed that important clinical information required for interventional procedures was not documented on the previous surgical checklist. A specific checklist was developed from the results of the survey and six focus groups (N = 25) and implemented in the cardiac catheterisation laboratory. In the post-implementation survey, participants identified that the cardiac catheterisation laboratory specific pre-procedure checklist included all relevant clinical information and improved documentation of patient information.

Conclusion: The development of a specific cardiac catheterisation laboratory pre-procedure checklist has led to an improved transfer of pertinent clinical information required prior to procedures being performed in the unit. The outcome of this study has implications for other cardiac catheterisation laboratories with the potential to standardise practice within interventional cardiology practice and improve patient safety outcomes.