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

ABSTRACTINTRODUCTIONCommunication 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.AIMTo develop a multidisciplinary teamwork training program focused on teaching teamwork behaviors and communication skills.SETTINGInternal medicine residents, hospitalists, nurses, pharmacists, and all other staff on a designated inpatient medical unit at an academic medical center.PROGRAM DESCRIPTIONWe 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 EVALUATIONWe 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.DISCUSSIONWe 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.

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