A multidisciplinary teamwork training program: the Triad for Optimal Patient Safety (TOPS) experience.
BACKGROUND
Communication and teamwork failures are a common cause of adverse events. Residency programs, with a mandate to teach systems-based practice, are particularly challenged to address these important skills.


OBJECTIVE
To develop a multidisciplinary teamwork training program focused on teaching teamwork behaviors and communication skills.


METHODS
Internal medicine residents, hospitalists, nurses, pharmacists, and all other staff on a designated inpatient medical unit at an academic medical center.


METHODS
We developed a 4-h teamwork training program as part of the Triad for Optimal Patient Safety (TOPS) project. Teaching strategies combined didactic presentation, facilitated discussion using a safety trigger video, and small-group scenario-based exercises to practice effective communication skills and team behaviors. Development, planning, implementation, delivery, and evaluation of TOPS Training was conducted by a multidisciplinary team.


RESULTS
We received 203 evaluations with a mean overall rating for the training of 4.49 +/- 0.79 on a 1-5 scale. Participants rated the multidisciplinary educational setting highly at 4.59 +/- 0.68.


CONCLUSIONS
We developed a multidisciplinary teamwork training program that was highly rated by all participating disciplines. The key was creating a shared forum to learn about and discuss interdisciplinary communication and teamwork.
Sehgal
Niraj L
NL
Division of Hospital Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA. nirajs@medicine.ucsf.edu
Fox
Michael
M
Vidyarthi
Arpana R
AR
Sharpe
Bradley A
BA
Gearhart
Susan
S
Bookwalter
Thomas
T
Barker
Jack
J
Alldredge
Brian K
BK
Blegen
Mary A
MA
Wachter
Robert M
RM
D006801:Humans; D007318:Inservice Training / Q000592:standards*; D007388:Internal Medicine / Q000592:standards; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D005791:Patient Care / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000592:standards*; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000592:standards*; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D015397:Program Evaluation / Q000592:standards*; D012449:Safety / Q000592:standards