TeamSTEPPS Improves Operating Room Efficiency and Patient Safety

Abstract

The objective was to evaluate the effect of TeamSTEPPS on operating room efficiency and patient safety. TeamSTEPPS consisted of briefings attended by all health care personnel assigned to the specific operating room to discuss issues unique to each case scheduled for that day. The operative times, on-time start rates, and turnover times of all cases performed by the urology service during the initial year with TeamSTEPPS were compared to the prior year. Patient safety issues identified during postoperative briefings were analyzed. The mean case time was 12.7 minutes less with TeamSTEPPS (P < .001). The on-time first-start rate improved by 21% with TeamSTEPPS (P < .001). The mean room turnover time did not change. Patient safety issues declined from an initial rate of 16% to 6% at midyear and remained stable (P < 0.001). TeamSTEPPS was associated with improved operating room efficiency and diminished patient safety issues in the operating room.

A qualitative study of how inter‐professional teamwork influences perioperative nursing

“…It is easier for experienced nurses to anticipate needs and act efficiently compared with those who have less experience (Lingard et al, ), which increases the need for good team skills in the OR team. Weld et al () found that team training was associated with shorter operating times and an improvement of on‐time starts.…”

“…All inter‐professional team members must be included in teaching, simulation and implementation of tools and strategies (Baker, Salas, Battles, & King, ). Research has shown that surgery‐related morbidity, mortality and the number of patient safety‐related intraoperative events were reduced significantly after team training (Forse, Bramble, & McQuillan, ; Gillespie et al, ; Johnson & Kimsey, ; Neily et al, ; Weld et al, ; Weller & Boyd, ). At the same time, OR efficiency increased and there were fewer delays (Shams et al, ).…”

Impact of teamwork improvement training on communication and teamwork climate in ambulatory reproductive health care

“…Although published research on team training in ambulatory care is extremely limited, our findings align with similar studies conducted in hospitals. Research involving implementation of TeamSTEPPS programs in acute care settings demonstrates improvements in observed team behaviors, 12,15,[19][20][21] staff perceptions of teamwork 15 and safety culture, 11,12,16,19,20,32 and patient satisfaction. 19,20 Recent literature reviews 2,7,10 and a meta-analysis 6 bolster the evidence that hospital-based team training interventions lead to improvements, not only in team outcomes but in clinical processes (eg, lengths of stay, procedure start times, and procedure duration) and patient outcomes (eg, adverse events, mortality) as well.…”

“…Medical team training has focused on hospital‐based acute care, with evidence supporting improvements in team attitudes, behaviors, and culture; clinical process measures; and patient outcomes . However, most patient care occurs in ambulatory facilities .…”

“…Medical team training has focused on hospital-based acute care, 2 with evidence supporting improvements in team attitudes, behaviors, and culture; clinical process measures; and patient outcomes. [2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21] However, most patient care occurs in ambulatory facilities. 22,23 The outpatient setting accounts for approximately half of medical liability claims paid on behalf of physicians, and these claims commonly involve diagnostic and treatment errors 24 that TeamSTEPPS principles may minimize.…”