A Multidisciplinary Teamwork Training Program: The Triad for Optimal Patient Safety (TOPS) Experience

• Published in: Journal of general internal medicine : JGIM Vol. 23; no. 12; pp. 2053 - 2057
• Main Authors: Sehgal, Niraj L., Fox, Michael, Vidyarthi, Arpana R., Sharpe, Bradley A., Gearhart, Susan, Bookwalter, Thomas, Barker, Jack, Alldredge, Brian K., Blegen, Mary A., Wachter, Robert M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer-Verlag 01.12.2008; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Communication; General aspects; Health education; Humans; Innovations in Education; Inservice Training - standards; Internal Medicine; Internal Medicine - standards; Interprofessional Relations; Medical residencies; Medical sciences; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Miscellaneous; Patient Care - adverse effects; Patient Care - standards; Patient Care Team - standards; Patient safety; Physician-Patient Relations; Program Evaluation - standards; Public health. Hygiene; Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine; Quality of care; Safety - standards; Teamwork; patient safety; multidisciplinary; communication; hospital; teamwork; Human; Medicine; Iatrogenic; Program; Complication; Patient; Safety; Multidisciplinary; Communication
• ISSN: 0884-8734; 1525-1497
• DOI: 10.1007/s11606-008-0793-8

ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION Communication and teamwork failures are a common cause of adverse events. Residency programs, with a mandate to teach systems-based practice, are particularly challenged to address these important skills. AIM To develop a multidisciplinary teamwork training program focused on teaching teamwork behaviors and communication skills. SETTING Internal medicine residents, hospitalists, nurses, pharmacists, and all other staff on a designated inpatient medical unit at an academic medical center. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION We developed a 4-h teamwork training program as part of the Triad for Optimal Patient Safety (TOPS) project. Teaching strategies combined didactic presentation, facilitated discussion using a safety trigger video, and small-group scenario-based exercises to practice effective communication skills and team behaviors. Development, planning, implementation, delivery, and evaluation of TOPS Training was conducted by a multidisciplinary team. PROGRAM EVALUATION We received 203 evaluations with a mean overall rating for the training of 4.49 ± 0.79 on a 1–5 scale. Participants rated the multidisciplinary educational setting highly at 4.59 ± 0.68. DISCUSSION We developed a multidisciplinary teamwork training program that was highly rated by all participating disciplines. The key was creating a shared forum to learn about and discuss interdisciplinary communication and teamwork.