Encouraging Partnerships With the Health Care Team
Encouraging Partnerships With the Health Care Team
Some patients and family members are interested in and ready for a high level of engagement with the health care team. In her presentation at the IPFCC Conference, Christensen (2012) called this level "expert" family participation, and suggested that patients and families at this level could be taught several evidence-based tools that are part of the TeamSTEPPS protocol.
TeamSTEPPS is an approach to communication and teamwork to ensure patient safety that was developed by the Patient Safety Program of the Department of Defense in conjunction with the AHRQ. (See http://teamstepps.ahrq.gov or www.health.mil/dodpatientsafety for details about the program.) Designed for use by members of a health care team, it can also be taught to family members to encourage their involvement. Familiarity with TeamSTEPPS tools can promote significant partnerships both by empowering family members to speak up in more challenging health care circumstances and by giving them a communication format that can easily be understood by health care providers.
SBAR. SBAR is an acronym for Situation/Background/Assessment/Recommendation. SBAR is a basic communication tool in the TeamSTEPPS training, designed to encourage clear communication related to emerging or urgent health concerns. SBAR can be used to both organize one's thoughts and then communicate essential information in a clearly understood format. An important aspect of SBAR, while encouraging teamwork and partnership, is that it also asks for some action to be taken based on the communication.
CUS. The TeamSTEPPS training includes another structured format for communication designed to slow down or stop a procedure or other situation when any member of a health care team, including a family member trained in its use, has a safety concern. This format is called the "Two Challenge Rule," also known by the acronym CUS:
Preparing Family Members for Higher Level Partnerships
Some patients and family members are interested in and ready for a high level of engagement with the health care team. In her presentation at the IPFCC Conference, Christensen (2012) called this level "expert" family participation, and suggested that patients and families at this level could be taught several evidence-based tools that are part of the TeamSTEPPS protocol.
TeamSTEPPS Protocol
TeamSTEPPS is an approach to communication and teamwork to ensure patient safety that was developed by the Patient Safety Program of the Department of Defense in conjunction with the AHRQ. (See http://teamstepps.ahrq.gov or www.health.mil/dodpatientsafety for details about the program.) Designed for use by members of a health care team, it can also be taught to family members to encourage their involvement. Familiarity with TeamSTEPPS tools can promote significant partnerships both by empowering family members to speak up in more challenging health care circumstances and by giving them a communication format that can easily be understood by health care providers.
SBAR. SBAR is an acronym for Situation/Background/Assessment/Recommendation. SBAR is a basic communication tool in the TeamSTEPPS training, designed to encourage clear communication related to emerging or urgent health concerns. SBAR can be used to both organize one's thoughts and then communicate essential information in a clearly understood format. An important aspect of SBAR, while encouraging teamwork and partnership, is that it also asks for some action to be taken based on the communication.
Situation – What is the situation?
Background – What is the clinical background?
Assessment – What is the problem?
Recommendation – What do I recommend/request be done?
CUS. The TeamSTEPPS training includes another structured format for communication designed to slow down or stop a procedure or other situation when any member of a health care team, including a family member trained in its use, has a safety concern. This format is called the "Two Challenge Rule," also known by the acronym CUS:
C – "I'm concerned."
U – "I'm uncomfortable" or "I need clarity."
S – Stop!/Safety at risk!
Source...