Teamwork as a Tool for Patient Safety

Suggestions for Presentation

  1. Ideally, the teamwork module should be presented in a way that enables participants to practice the featured skills
  2. Begin the training by demonstrating or illustrating (perhaps using the First, do no harm video) a breakdown in team communication that is particularly relevant to the participants.
  3. For some audiences, non-health care team analogies--especially sport or family "teams"--may help communicate the concepts.

Suggestions for Customization

Additional Learning Points

  1. Teamwork involves much more than communication. Structure, continuity, buy-in, and support are all necessary for successful health care teams. These components can be explored if time allows.

Additional Presentation Materials

  1. Team Training and Leadership in Cardiac Life Support (PowerPoint: BIDMC)
  2. Teamwork in Healthcare (PowerPoint: MGH, CMS)
  3. Kaiser Permanente Cardiac Treadmill Patient Safety Project (MSWord: Michael Leonard, MD)

Additional References

  1. Robert L. Helmreich and Ashleigh C. Merritt, Culture at Work in Aviation and Medicine: National, Organizational, and Professional Influences. Brookfield, Vermont: Ashgate (1998).
  2. Robert L. Helmreich, "Managing Human Error in Aviation," Scientific American (May 1997), p. 40.
  3. Robert Davis, "Medicine's Flying Lessons," USA Today (October 19, 1998).
  4. Hackman, J. R. (1990). Groups That Work (and Those That Don't). San Francisco, Jossey-Bass, Inc.
  5. Rider E. Twelve strategies for effective communication in medical teams. BMJ 2002; 325:S45.
  6. Salas E, Bowers CA, Edens E (eds). Improving Teamwork in Organizations-Applications of Resource Management Training. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates. Mahwah, NJ, 2001
  7. Testimony of Robert L. Wears and Robert Simon, Panel 2: Broad-based Systems Approaches. Written Statement. National Summit on Medical Errors and Patient Safety Research. September 2000. http://www.quic.gov/summit/wwears.htm

Additional Subject Matter Experts

  1. none identified

Suggestions for Measurement of Competency in the Objectives

  1. Participants complete a worksheet for identifying areas of application of briefings and assertiveness
  2. Participants give a demonstration of briefing or assertion

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