The Power of a Checklist
Friday, January 8th, 2010The idea of making a checklist before commencing an important or potentially dangerous undertaking seems like good sense. While it is “high concept, low tech,” the implementation of a checklist can save lives when utilized in tasks ranging from flying an airplane to packing for a mountain climbing expedition.
What could the resistance to following a checklist procedure possibly be ? That it is “too immature”? Too unsophisticated ? To “un-cool” ?
Leonardo Da Vinci is said to have remarked that, “simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” With that in mind, the positive results experienced by surgeons utilizing checklists, as discussed here, is truly heartwarming. A book that I plan to read, by Dr. Atul Gawande entitled The Checklist Manifesto: How To Get Things Right, as reported here and here, appears to make a strong argument for “The Power of a Checklist.”
