Veterinary Surgical Suite Sterility and Safety Checklist
This comprehensive veterinary surgical suite sterility and safety checklist ensures regulatory compliance with AAHA, AVMA, State Veterinary Medical Board, OSHA. Pre-operative and post-operative inspection of veterinary surgical suites covering instrument sterility, anesthesia machine safety, surgical site preparation, environmental cleanliness, and equipment function per AAHA Anesthesia and Monitoring Guidelines and AVMA best practices for surgical suite management.. Complete all sections to mai
- Industry: Veterinary & Animal Care
- Frequency: Daily / Per Procedure
- Estimated Time: 30 minutes
- Role: Veterinarian / Clinic Manager / Animal Care Lead
- Total Items: 21
- Compliance: AAHA, AVMA, State Veterinary Medical Board, OSHA
Surgical Suite Environment
Verify surgical environment cleanliness per AAHA facility standards.
- Has surgical suite been cleaned and disinfected with EPA-registered surgical disinfectant between procedures?
- Is surgical suite access restricted to essential surgical personnel during procedure?
- Is surgical suite HVAC maintaining positive pressure relative to corridor if applicable?
- Are all personnel wearing fresh scrubs, surgical caps, and masks before entering sterile field?
- Is surgical lighting functional and providing adequate illumination of operative field?
Anesthesia Machine and Monitoring
Inspect anesthesia equipment per AAHA Anesthesia Guidelines.
- Has anesthesia machine been leak-tested per AAHA protocol before first procedure of day?
- Is oxygen cylinder pressure adequate for planned procedures with backup cylinder available?
- Is inhalant anesthetic vaporizer calibrated and within recommended service interval?
- Is waste anesthetic gas scavenging system connected and functional to protect personnel per OSHA?
- Are multiparameter monitoring capabilities (SpO2, ETCO2, ECG, temperature) functional and attached?
- Are emergency reversal agents and resuscitation drugs drawn up or immediately accessible per AAHA?
Sterile Pack and Instrument Verification
Verify sterility of surgical packs before use.
- Are all surgical packs and pouches intact with no tears, moisture damage, or compromise?
- Has chemical indicator inside each pack changed to confirm sterilant exposure?
- Are all sterile packs within expiration date?
- Has instrument count been performed before procedure to prevent retained foreign body?
- Is patient surgically prepped and draped using aseptic technique before instrument table is opened?
Patient Safety and Records
Verify patient identification and consent per AVMA.
- Has patient identity been verbally confirmed against anesthesia record before induction?
- Has procedure to be performed been confirmed with surgeon against owner consent form?
- Have required pre-anesthetic lab values been reviewed and are within acceptable range?
- Is signed informed consent with anesthetic risk disclosure on file per state veterinary board requirements?
- Is anesthesia monitoring record completed throughout procedure with vital signs documented every 5 minutes?
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Why Use This Veterinary Surgical Suite Sterility and Safety Checklist?
This veterinary surgical suite sterility and safety checklist helps veterinary & animal care teams maintain compliance and operational excellence. Designed for veterinarian / clinic manager / animal care lead professionals, this checklist covers 21 critical inspection points across 4 sections. Recommended frequency: daily / per procedure.
Ensures compliance with AAHA, AVMA, State Veterinary Medical Board, OSHA. Regulatory-aligned for audit readiness and inspection documentation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Veterinary Surgical Suite Sterility and Safety Checklist cover?
This checklist covers 21 inspection items across 4 sections: Surgical Suite Environment, Anesthesia Machine and Monitoring, Sterile Pack and Instrument Verification, Patient Safety and Records. It is designed for veterinary & animal care operations and compliance.
How often should this checklist be completed?
This checklist should be completed daily / per procedure. Each completion takes approximately 30 minutes.
Who should use this Veterinary Surgical Suite Sterility and Safety Checklist?
This checklist is designed for Veterinarian / Clinic Manager / Animal Care Lead professionals in the veterinary & animal care industry. It can be used for self-assessments, team audits, and regulatory compliance documentation.
Can I download this checklist as a PDF?
Yes, this checklist is available as a free PDF download. You can also use it digitally in the POPProbe mobile app for real-time data capture, photo documentation, and automatic reporting.