The use of evidence-based practices to improve teamwork and communication in theatre is something the Safe Surgery NZ programme of the Health Quality & Safety Commission actively encourages.
One improvement programme promoting such practices is the Productive Operating Theatre (TPOT) from the National Health Service in the UK.
Northland District Health Board (DHB) introduced TPOT in 2013 and the paperless checklist in January 2016. It is one of only a few DHBs where all operating theatres use briefing and debriefing alongside the paperless surgical safety checklist.
This case study gives details about how Northland DHB achieved success.