2 of 11

INTRODUCTION:

PATIENT SAFETY REMAINS A MAJOR GLOBAL HEALTHCARE PRIORITY , PARTICULARLY IN SURGICAL CARE WHERE COMMUNICATION FAILURES AND POOR TEAM WORK CONTRIBUTE SIGNIFICANTLY TO PREVENTABLE MORBIDITY AND MORTALITY.

SAFE SURGERY DEPENDS NOT ONLY ON TECHNICAL EXPERTISE BUT ALSO EFFECTIVE INTERPROFESSIONAL COLLABORATION , STRUCTURED COMMUNICATION AND COORDINATED TEAMWORK AMONG HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONS.

FAILURES IN COMMUNICATION ARE AMONG THE LEADING CAUSES OF WRONG-SITE SURGERY, RETAINED SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS , MEDICATION ERRORS , ANESTHESIA COMPLICATIONS AND POST OPERATIVE INFECTIONS

3 of 11

PATIENT SAFETY IN SURGERY ENTAILS :
CORRECT PATIENT IDENTIFICATION
PROPER SITE VERIFICATION
SAFE ANESTHESIA ADMINISTRATION
INFECTION PREVENTION
EFFECTIVE POST OPERATIVE MONITORING

SAFE SURGERY REQUIRES SYNCHRONIZED COMMUNICATION AND COLLABORATIVE PRACTICE THROUGHOUT THE PERIOPERATIVE PERIOD.

4 of 11

BENEFITS OF INTERPROFESSIONAL COLLABORATION AND COMMUNICATION:

IMPROVE DECISION MAKING
FASTER IDENTIFICATION OF COMPLICATIONS
INCREASED EFFICIENCY IN OPERATING ROOMS
BETTER PATIENT SATISFACTION
REDUCE MORTALITY AND MORBIDITY RATES

5 of 11

EVIDENCE BASED STRATEGIES TO IMPROVE SURGICAL SAFETY:
SURGICAL SAFETY CHECKLISTS
TEAM BRIEFINGS AND DEBRIEFS,
STANDARD COMMUNICATION TOOL-SBAR
SIMULATION-BASED TRAINING,
PROMOTING SAFE CULTURE.

TYPES OF COMMUNICATIONS:
VERBAL
WRITTEN
ELECTRONIC

6 of 11

CHALLENGES:

HIERARCHICAL STRUCTURES
PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND DIFFERENCES
STRESS AND WORK LOADS
TIME CONSTRAINTS
INCOMPLETE INFORMATION.
GROUP THINK
DOMINANCE
BLAME CULTURE
SILOS

BARRIERS TO IMPLEMENTATION :

ORGANIZATIONAL BARRIERS
PROFESSIONAL BARRIERS
SYSTEM-LEVEL BARRIERS

7 of 11

Team Dynamics in Communication : Key Elements

Clear communication-Messages should be accurate, concise and understood by all team members.
Active listening- Team members should listen attentively , ask questions when necessary, and confirm understanding.
Trust- A trusting environment encourages team members to speak their concerns without fear of blame.
Shared goals- All team members should work towards the common goal of delivering safe, high-quality patient care.
Role clarity- Each team member should understand their role and those of others.
Constructive feedback- Regular feedback helps improve performance and strengthen teamwork.

8 of 11

MUTUAL ACCOUNTABILITY
CONSTRUCTIVE CONFLICT RESOLUTION- HANDLED WITH RESPECT
SET NORMS-HELPS PREVENT MISUNDERSTANDING

9 of 11

CONCLUSION;

HEALTHCARE INSTITUTIONS THAT PRIORITIZE COLLABORATION AND COMMUNICATION CAN CREATE SAFE SURGICAL ENVIRONMENTS, IMPROVE PATIENTS EXPERIENCES AND ACHIEVE BETTER CLINICAL OUTCOMES. CONTINUED INVESTMENT ON INTERDISCIPLINARY TEAMWORK AND COMMUNICATION STRATEGIES REMAINS VITAL FOR ADVANCING SAFE SURGERY AND STRENGTHENING HEALTHCARE QUALITY WORLDWIDE

10 of 11

REFERENCES:
WHO SURGICAL SAFETY CHECKLIST….

WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION (2008). A GLOBALLY ADOPTED TOOL THAT STANDARDIZES COMMUNICATION AND ENSURES CRITICAL STEPS ARE NOT MISSED, REDUCING MORTALITY AND COMPLICATIONS.

SBAR COMMUNICATION FRAMEWORK …..

LEONARD, GRAHAM, & BONACUM (2004). THE HUMAN FACTOR: THE CRITICAL IMPORTANCE OF EFFECTIVE TEAMWORK AND COMMUNICATION IN PROVIDING SAFE CARE. HEALTH AFFAIRS. INTRODUCED SBAR (SITUATION, BACKGROUND, ASSESSMENT, RECOMMENDATION) FOR STRUCTURED HANDOVERS .

TEAMWORK IN THE OPERATING ROOM ….

SALAS, E., ET AL. (2008). THE SCIENCE OF TEAMWORK: PROGRESS, REFLECTIONS, AND THE ROAD AHEAD. AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGIST. DEMONSTRATES HOW INTERPROFESSIONAL COLLABORATION IMPROVES PATIENT OUTCOMES.

COMMUNICATION FAILURES IN SURGERY ….

LINGARD, L., ET AL. (2004). COMMUNICATION FAILURES IN THE OPERATING ROOM: AN OBSERVATIONAL CLASSIFICATION OF RECURRENT TYPES AND EFFECTS. QUALITY & SAFETY IN HEALTH CARE. FOUND THAT MISCOMMUNICATION IS A LEADING CAUSE OF SURGICAL ERRORS.

SIMULATION TRAINING FOR SURGICAL TEAMS

WEAVER, S.J., ET AL. (2010). SIMULATION-BASED TRAINING FOR PATIENT SAFETY: THE EVIDENCE BASE. BMJ QUALITY & SAFETY. SHOWS HOW CRISIS SIMULATIONS ENHANCE COORDINATION UNDER PRESSURE

1 of 11