Lieutenant Colonel Jason Seery, M.D., director of the U.S. Army Trauma Training Center in Miami, who used his skills as a surgeon and a team builder during deployments to Korea, Iraq and Afghanistan, recently rolled out the TeamSTEPPS program to physicians, nurses and technicians at non-profit Holy Cross Hospital in Fort Lauderdale.

 

With more than 20 years of scientific research behind it, the evidence-based TeamSTEPPS system was developed by the Department of Defense’s Patient Safety Program. Physicians and other healthcare professionals who are part of effective teams are more satisfied, less likely to experience burnout and less likely to have preventable errors that adversely affect patients.

 

At Holy Cross Hospital several team building sessions focused on communications and action. For example, the team participated in a “huddle,” gathering quickly to make important decisions and assign tasks clearly. The “pre-brief,” a short conference before a surgery or procedure to clarify roles and explain any known concerns, was followed by the “de-brief,” a short conference post- surgery or procedure to review concerns and thank the group for work well done. The sessions were designed for the team to analyze the entire situation, not just an individual’s role, to ensure that each person is helping their colleagues have a safe experience.