Poor communication: root of most patient safety ills.
Poor communication in the ED can dramatically affect patient safety and satisfaction. Insist on open communication to ensure your team leader has the information he or she needs to make decisions. Don't assume the leader has all the information you have. Circumstance can project any team member into a leadership position, so everyone must think like a potential leader. With multiple critical patients in the ED simultaneously, a nurse or tech may have to assume temporary leadership for a patient. Review key information after every shift change.
D003142:Communication; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D019300:Medical Errors / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010348:Patient Care Team; D017751:Safety Management; D014481:United States