Tablet innovation in the operating theatre

Part of the peri-operative practice at Prince of Wales Hospital required operating theatre staff to take a verbal countercheck of medical instruments using instrument books – calling out the type and number of the instruments required for the surgical procedure. In mid-2013, the operating theatre introduced the use of tablet devices to undertake surgical instrument counts – a significant improvement on the verbal counting method to replace the previous simple instrument checklists with no visual references. Under the new system, information about the type and quantity of instruments required – including reference images – is easily available with just a few taps of the tablet screen. The new process has not only streamlined the instrument-checking procedure but has also enhanced surgical safety standards for patients.