New draft recommendations presented at the National Surgical Patient Safety Summit emphasize the importance of a committed care team whose members have undergone teamwork and communication training.
Here are four points:
1. The summit is a two-day event that includes more than 100 representatives from medical professional associations, insurers, healthcare systems, payers and government agencies. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and American College of Surgeons sponsored the summit.
2. Workgroups that included surgeons, anesthesiologists and nurses, convened before the summit to prepare draft recommendations for all surgical team members.
3. The recommendations include
• Simulation-based safety training modules for the entire surgical team
• Training on teamwork, and other essential non-technical skills
• Shared-decision making practices and procedures
• Communication tools and procedures
4. The workgroups will use the draft recommendations to finalize National Surgical Patient Safety Standards as well as develop surgical safety education curriculum proposals.
