How can cross-functional teams ensure patient safety?

2 Communicate effectively

Another essential step to ensure patient safety is to communicate effectively across different roles, disciplines, and settings. Effective communication involves sharing relevant information, listening actively, clarifying doubts, providing feedback, and resolving conflicts. Communication tools and strategies, such as handoffs, huddles, checklists, and protocols, can help cross-functional teams communicate effectively and prevent errors, delays, and misunderstandings.

3 Collaborate respectfully

A third step to ensure patient safety is to collaborate respectfully with each other and with patients and families. Respectful collaboration involves recognizing and valuing the diverse skills, knowledge, and perspectives of each team member, as well as the patient's and family's input and feedback. Respectful collaboration also involves fostering a culture of trust, openness, and mutual support, where team members can share ideas, concerns, and solutions without fear of blame or retaliation.

4 Learn continuously

A fourth step to ensure patient safety is to learn continuously from each other and from the outcomes of care. Continuous learning involves collecting and analyzing data on patient safety indicators, such as adverse events, near misses, and patient satisfaction. It also involves identifying and implementing best practices, innovations, and improvements based on evidence and experience. Continuous learning also involves promoting a culture of learning, where team members can reflect, share, and learn from successes and failures.

5 Engage patients and families

A fifth step to ensure patient safety is to engage patients and families as active partners in care. Engaging patients and families involves informing and educating them about their condition, treatment options, and rights. It also involves involving them in decision making, care planning, and care delivery. Engaging patients and families also involves empowering them to speak up, ask questions, and report any issues or concerns related to their safety.

6 Evaluate performance

A sixth step to ensure patient safety is to evaluate the performance of the cross-functional team and its impact on patient safety. Evaluating performance involves measuring and monitoring the processes and outcomes of care, such as adherence to standards, protocols, and guidelines, as well as patient safety incidents, complaints, and compliments. It also involves soliciting and acting on feedback from team members, patients, families, and other stakeholders. Evaluating performance also involves celebrating and rewarding achievements and recognizing and addressing gaps and challenges.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?