Stepping Up Teamwork via TeamSTEPPS

erioperative leaders are in the spotlight to develop and been developed by the AHRQ and the Department of Defense manage effective and safe teams caring for patients in the OR setting. Leadership does not begin and end with personnel reporting to nurse managers. It must involve every member of the OR team with a connection to the patient during a surgical procedure, inclusive of physicians and vendors. The OR is a complex environment in which effective communication and the coordination of multiple team members can be critical for safe and efficient functioning. Team members rely on one another’s expertise for completing tasks successfully. They must share information rapidly when responding to expected and unexpected events. Mistakes in communication are cited by The Joint Commission as the principle underlying cause of human error. Improved teamwork and communication have been identified as a priority by The Joint Commission and Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ).