Sapere Research Group undertook a cost benefit analysis of the WHO surgical safety checklist for the Health Quality & Safety Commission. The report concludes there is scope for more consistent use of the surgical safety checklist within the New Zealand health system and that the cost of this improvement is likely to be low. Systematic use of the checklist is likely to lead to a net financial benefit to the publicly-funded health system.
The benefits arise from avoided complications of surgical care leading to reduced hospital costs. Additional costs for complications are due to a longer length of stay and additional surgical or medical procedures in response to the adverse event. Avoiding these costs may not result in immediately bankable savings, but would free up resources to be used for treating other patients.