Creating a Culture of Teamwork Through the Use of Teamstepps Strategies within Women's and Infants Services

Purpose:
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.