Navigating safety and human factors in preparation for anaesthesia

It has long been recognised that humans will make errors. Veterinary anaesthesia is a complex process necessitating multitasking and teamwork, which therefore has a relatively high incidence of errors that can impact patient safety. It is the responsibility of the entire team to enhance patient safety by recognising possible sources of safety events and instituting processes to reduce their risk. Documenting patient safety events and reviewing their contributing factors within a no-blame culture allows for improved engagement and for processes to be tailored to individual practices. The causes of patient safety events can be complex and multifaceted, often including cognitive ability and communication. Using human factors enables practices to introduce processes that make it easier for team members to do the right thing, as well as difficult to do the wrong thing. When introduced, these processes must be well communicated to the team and reviewed to ensure they function appropriately.