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The team brief is an important part of effective team working in theatres. An innovative but simple initiative ensures everyone feels part of the team while simultaneously tackling environmental and infection control issues. Danielle Checketts provides an insight.
The NHS is striving to be more sustainable, moving to greener alternative products away from disposable items. Daily contributions result in millions of single-use throw-away items going to landfills.
The Royal College of Surgeons has recognized that it is imperative to act collectively and urgently to address this issue. They developed a Green Theatre Checklist to help drive greener changes.
Communication in Surgery
In operating theatres, confusion often surrounds the names and roles of team members. This confusion can lead to communication breakdowns.
An initiative is helping to address these concerns. It identifies every individual involved in the operating theatre team, ensuring clear recognition of roles. This innovation promotes sustainable practices, aligning with efforts to reduce waste and improve environmental efficiency within healthcare settings. The approach offers a comprehensive improvement to the operating theatre experience for both staff and patients.
One survey found that two-thirds of nurses and physicians cited better communication as the most important element in improving safety and efficiency in the operating room. The WHO developed a checklist that includes making formal introductions before surgery. However, many staff members forget their co-workers’ names shortly after these introductions.
Effective Communications Are Key
Effective collaboration within operating theatre teams is critical, especially during crises. Communication interventions, like team briefings and debriefings, aid task completion and foster open dialogue. This practice encourages team members to rely less on memory recall, which is often hampered by name badges not being worn.
Identification in Theatres
The operating theatre has its own set of challenges. Everyone wears the same colour scrubs and disposable caps, making it difficult to recognize team members. This lack of visual identity can lead to confusion, heightened stress, and even potential safety risks.
Studies demonstrate that using the time just before skin incision to review team members' names and roles is vital. In a survey, many staff members revealed they rarely knew the names of their colleagues in the operating room. New starters found it particularly challenging, making effective teamwork even more difficult.
Sustainable Practices Matter
The WHO states that effective communication in surgery is crucial. Serious complications can arise if team members do not know each others' names. This miscommunication can pose risks during critical situations when decisions need to be made swiftly.
Names and Roles on Theatre Caps
Implementing name and role theatre caps in UK operating theatres has provided various advantages. Having names displayed improves communication, reduces hierarchical barriers, and enhances human factors, contributing to better patient safety.
The Centre for Sustainable Healthcare reported that knowing the names of team members helps to alleviate patient anxiety. Since 2018, several hospitals have experimented with identifying roles using their disposable caps, which, while practical, are not sustainable.
Yeovil Hospital has adopted a simple method of improving communication and patient satisfaction daily. Although this uses disposable materials, the staff have reported significant improvements in communication and patient trust.
Theatre Badge Hats
My experiences of being mistaken in various roles, combined with my passion for patient safety, led me to innovate a fabric theatre hat. This hat identifies everyone present, including students, visitors, and birthing partners.
Eco Ninjas has developed a range of theatre badge hats designed with sustainability and identification in mind. The addition of easy-to-read name badges on fabric hats can have a profound effect on communication, ultimately enhancing patient safety.
These hats can be laundered centrally or at home, reducing the risk of loss by the Trust. The complexity associated with ordering bespoke sizes for individual staff is eliminated. Each member of the surgical team can wear the hats interchangeably, much like scrubs, ensuring everyone can be easily identified.
Hierarchical Barriers
Hierarchical structures in healthcare can lead to misunderstandings and communication failures. Staff may hesitate to speak up when they do not know each other's names. Every member of the surgical team should feel empowered to communicate openly, regardless of their position.
Using first names helps flatten these hierarchies. Addressing someone as "Mr. Surgeon" can create a divide, making some feel subordinate. By using first names, the environment can become more approachable and inclusive.
Hello, My Name Is...
For patients, entering a theatre can be daunting. Familiarity with staff can ease anxiety and foster trust. The ‘Hello, my name is’ campaign, initiated by Dr. Kate Granger, aims to humanize healthcare. This valuable campaign emphasizes the importance of staff introductions.
Theatre badge hats support this initiative by facilitating clear identification of all staff. Research indicates that name badges enhance trust and improve patient experience.
Visual Identification of Roles: A Patient Perspective
Patients' families, too, benefit from clear identification of roles. Misunderstandings can lead to distress during significant moments. Clear visual identifiers help mitigate confusion.
Improving Safety and Protocols
Mr. Andrew Stevenson, an Orthopaedic Surgeon, stressed how high staff turnover makes it challenging to recognize team members. Familiarity and using each other’s names lead to better communication and functionality within surgical teams, especially during crises.
Many surgeons have expressed frustration over the inability to remember the names of those they work with daily. Implementing the badge hats can transform the operating theatre experience.
A More Sustainable NHS
According to the World Health Organisation, healthcare services often contribute significantly to carbon emissions. Transitioning to sustainable products is vital. The Royal College of Surgeons’ Green Theatre Checklist emphasizes the need for reusable items to reduce waste.
Transforming the healthcare culture to embrace sustainability requires planning, education, and investment. Although reusables may involve higher upfront costs, the long-term benefits and savings make them a valuable investment.
Infection Control Challenges
Different infection control teams carry varying views about laundering theatre attire. While some argue against home washing, others advocate for staff's ability to manage personal items.
The theatre badge hats provide a practical solution that requires minimal additional effort in maintaining hygiene.
Conclusion
Identifying theatre teams effectively can reduce communication errors and hierarchical barriers. Personalizing care fosters a better culture, promoting openness and trust. Implementing theatre badge hats can serve as a simple solution, enhancing safety and sustainability in the operating room.
As we continue to address these issues, we can build a more effective and responsive healthcare environment for both patients and professionals alike.
For further details, view the full article in the CSJ February 2025.
Download the PDF version here.