Amplifying Team work in Operating Theatres

Patient safety has become an integral part of quality care. A typical surgical department in a hospital requires an operating room with a dedicated surgical team to perform operations. The complexity of surgical procedures requires improved technical skills. Approximately 50% of hospital errors occur in the operating room or resuscitation department. A lot of it is due to a lack of communication. Improving teamwork requires simulations, standardization of information, specific training, and the definition of appropriate roles.?

Teams are critical to the success of any healthcare system, but they are often forgotten when it comes to professional development. Much has been said about team building, but organizations tend to spend most of their resources on developing individual leaders and individual contributors, ignoring how to build strong teams.?

Team Work inside Operating Theatres

Working in a team requires common goals and specific roles for each team member. A good example is the OR environment. It requires a positive attitude towards other team members, strong communication skills, leadership abilities, an understanding and learning about different roles, the ability to provide support, feedback to learn, and ultimately alignment. Many actions are performed in OP without explicit orders. However, given the complexity of the situation, it's best to be more explicit when discussing unusual situations.?

The best teams can be formed by following a number of theories and practices, including basic team training, skill development, protocols, checklists, team structures, and more. By improving the way each surgical team works in the operating room, this hospital can provide the best possible care for all patients.?

Developing the clinical skills of surgical team members helps each member of the team understand their roles and responsibilities before, during, and after surgery. Once the procedure is allowed to begin, these skills should be tested and reinforced regularly to avoid performance degradation.?

Training a Team

Training a team as a unit also has a significant positive effect on the surgical process, attitudes towards teamwork, and team practice. By working as, a unit, more procedures can start on time, reducing delays and improving turnaround times. When teams have common goals of efficiency and safety, compliance improves and clinical and procedural errors can be reduced. When a team member's goals are aligned, communication makes us less error-prone.?

The checklist can structure information exchange and support the development of a common team mentality. The checklist identifies the teams and their roles that can handle the process. It also helps identify errors and omissions for better patient care.?

In my experience, preoperative meeting minutes have shown to improve teamwork in surgical teams. Before surgery, the purpose and difficulties of surgery should be discussed. This allows each member to be better prepared in case complications arise.

Surgical team structure can also affect teamwork and communication. Workflow diagrams help streamline operating room teams. Once the required tasks are clearly outlined and the team members who need to complete them are identified, the process is more likely to go as described. Consistency in this method of communication reduces the chance of misunderstandings.?

Conclusion

Teams' collective problem-solving capabilities certainly have greater potential than individuals'. Pursuing a common goal increases cohesion and improves team performance. Shared team goals and understanding each person's plans and responsibilities are essential for a well-functioning team, and a healthy team is the backbone of any organization. Ultimately, the focus must always be on the patients and their welfare.