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Creating a Culture of Teamwork Through the Use of Teamstepps Strategies within Women's and Infants Services
Handout (281.3 kB)
The goal of this project was to improve patient safety and satisfaction by implementing an evidence-based system to enhance communication and teamwork skills among the interdisciplinary health care team.
Significance:
A committed multidisciplinary group attended TeamSTEPPS master training course and identified an opportunity to improve communication among healthcare providers to promote patient safety and satisfaction. The team developed the department-wide “snapshot” as an intervention to improve communication.
Strategy and Implementation:
The TeamSTEPPS master trainers conducted a four hour interactive workshop that was attended by key departmental direct patient care stakeholders. Remaining staff attended a mandatory two hour workshop; both workshops highlighted the TeamSTEPPS philosophy and provided an opportunity to practice TeamSTEPPS behaviors and the “snapshot.” The snapshot is a scripted report that provides an opportunity discuss all relevant patient care topics. To close snapshot, the Obstetric faculty clearly states: “If any team member sees anything unsafe or not in the best interests of our patients, we expect you to speak up. If you are unable to get a timely or effective response, call me, obstetric faculty, Dr. _______.The hard stop phrase is I need clarification." The interdisciplinary snapshot is conducted twice daily and is led by the Obstetric faculty and attended by L&D, antepartum, OR and mother/baby charge nurses, Anesthesia, Neonatology, Certified Nurse Midwife, Family Medicine and Pediatrics.
Evaluation:
The teamSTEPPS Assessment Questionnaire was administered prior to teamSTEPPS training and again 6 months after initiation of department wide "snapshot." Statistically significant improvements were found in six of the seven team constructs, including the overall mean questionnaire score.
Implications for Practice:
Effective collaboration and communication are essential elements of professional nursing. The department-wide “snapshot” encourages nurses to be actively involved in the multidisciplinary healthcare team and make valuable, evidence-based contributions to patient safety and satisfaction.