An Interdisciplinary Approach to Creating a Culture of Safety

Poster PresentationPurpose for the ProgramAt New York Presbyterian Weill Cornell Medical Center, potentially unsafe behaviors or conditions have been observed on the labor and delivery unit. We demonstrate the successful implementation of an innovative program to improve the culture of safety within the obstetric unit with a goal to improve outcomes.Proposed ChangeTo use TeamSTEPPS as a basis and transform a less safe working environment into a safer, more collaborative, working environment.Implementation, Outcomes, and EvaluationA formalized plan for a culture of safety was gradually introduced to the obstetric department. Before the initial culture of safety roll out, an Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality (AHRQ) survey was completed by staff members. Formalized TeamSTEPPS training set the framework for communication tools and modalities that would be the expectation in all obstetric areas. Eighty‐five percent (450 members) of the obstetric team completed TeamSTEPPS training by September 2014.Once staff had an understanding of the plan, leadership from nursing, obstetrics, and anesthesia were able to promote the use of tools, including multidisciplinary briefs, huddles, and debriefs, which created a general, nonpunitive, transparent department. This is demonstrated by a 45% increase in medical event reporting across all specialties from January 2013 to August 2014.Evaluation Metrics: Over a 2‐year interval, increases were noted in the following domains of a Cul...

Source: Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, and Neonatal Nursing - June 4, 2015 Category: Nursing Authors: Sara Pasciolla, Barbara Alba Tags: Professional Issues Source Type: research