Mini course · Intermediate level
Safe Surgery & Universal Protocol
Right patient, right procedure, right site, every single time.
What is Safe Surgery & Universal Protocol?
Wrong-site, wrong-procedure and wrong-patient surgery are rare but devastating, and almost always preventable. The universal protocol and surgical safety checklist create reliable checks before, during and after procedures. This course covers pre-procedure verification, site marking, the time-out, sign-in and sign-out, retained items prevention, team communication in the operating theatre, and applying the same principles to procedures outside theatre.
- Duration
- 1.5 hours
- Lessons
- 5
- Level
- Intermediate
- Format
- Online, self-paced
What you'll be able to do
- Describe the components of the universal protocol
- Conduct pre-procedure verification for a described case
- Apply correct site marking principles
- Lead or participate in an effective time-out
- Identify strategies to prevent retained surgical items
- Apply safe procedure principles outside the operating theatre
Who this course is for
Course content
5 lessons · 1.5 hours total · free preview available
1Never Events in Surgery
16 minFree preview· Course content
Never Events in Surgery
Why wrong-site surgery still happens.
2Verification and Site Marking
18 min· Course content
Verification and Site Marking
Available after you enroll.
3The Time-Out and Checklist
20 min· Course content
The Time-Out and Checklist
Available after you enroll.
4Retained Items and Counts
18 min· Course content
Retained Items and Counts
Available after you enroll.
5Beyond the Operating Theatre
18 min· Course content
Beyond the Operating Theatre
Available after you enroll.
Earn a credential employers can check
Every AIHCM credential has a unique ID that anyone can verify online in seconds.
Issued: on completion
How it works
- Finish all 5 lessons at your own pace.
- Get your digital credential with a unique ID.
- Share it — employers can verify it at aihcm.us.
Questions people ask
Is the course based on the WHO Surgical Safety Checklist?
Yes. It builds on the WHO checklist and widely used universal protocol principles.
Why do checklists sometimes fail?
Often because they become a box-ticking exercise. The course focuses on team engagement.
Does it apply to dental and endoscopy procedures?
Yes. The principles apply to any invasive procedure.
Does it teach surgical technique?
No. It focuses on safety processes and teamwork.