Guideline Implementation: Team Communication

The perioperative environment is fast paced and complex. Competing responsibilities, noise and distractions, and reluctance of team members to speak up when they are aware of a potential patient safety issue are all barriers to effective communication in the perioperative setting. Communication breakdowns among health care providers can lead to medical errors and patient harm. Accurate and complete communication about the patient and the patient's care can contribute to improved efficiency, better patient outcomes, and fewer adverse events. The new AORN “Guideline for team communication” provides guidance on using standardized processes and tools to improve the quality of team communication. The key points address hand overs between phases of perioperative care; a briefing to share the surgical plan; a time out to verify the correct patient, procedure, site, and side; and a debriefing to discuss what was learned and how to improve. Perioperative RN s should review the complete guideline for additional information and for guidance when writing and updating policies and procedures.