Dr. Teodor Grantcharov, a professor at the University of Toronto and staff surgeon at St. Michael’s Hospital, developed the OR Black Box® to improve surgical outcomes. Similar to the black box in an airplane, it records a wide array of data during surgery, including video and audio recordings, environmental factors like noise and temperature, and performance metrics of the surgical team. This data is analyzed to explore how factors like team communication, stress, and fatigue influence patient outcomes. By providing a more transparent and data-driven approach to surgery, the Black Box Platform enables medical professionals to learn from mistakes, refine their techniques, and ultimately improve patient safety.

Used in hospitals such as St. Michael’s, Humber River, and North York General, the OR Black Box is already offering insights that lead to more effective surgical practices. For example, data showed that limiting the number of people in the room during critical procedures can reduce errors. The OR Black Box also fosters global collaboration, allowing medical teams from different parts of the world to compare practices and share knowledge. Grantcharov envisions a culture shift in surgery, where the operating room becomes more open, transparent, and less "mystical," ultimately benefiting both medical professionals and patients.