title: Evaluating efforts to optimize TeamSTEPPS implementation in surgical and pediatric intensive care units.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  An evidence-based teamwork system, Team-STEPPS, was implemented in an academic medical center's pediatric and surgical ICUs.
  
  
  METHODS
  A multidisciplinary change team of unit- and department-based leaders was formed to champion the initiative; develop a customized action plan for implementation; train frontline staff; and identify process, team outcome, and clinical outcome objectives for the intervention. The evaluation consisted of interviews with key staff, teamwork observations, staff surveys, and clinical outcome data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All PICU, SICU, and respiratory therapy staff received TeamSTEPPS training. Staff reported improved experience of teamwork posttraining and evaluated the implementation as effective. Observed team performance significantly improved for all core areas of competency at 1 month postimplementation and remained significantly improved for most of the core areas of competency at 6 and 12 months postimplementation. Survey data indicated improvements in staff perceptions of teamwork and communication openness in both units. From pre- to posttraining, the average time for placing patients on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) decreased significantly. The average duration of adult surgery rapid response team events was 33% longer at postimplementation versus pre-implementation. The rate of nosocomial infections at postimplementation was below the upper control limit for seven out of eight months in both the PICU and the SICU.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The implementation of a customized 2.5-hour version of the TeamSTEPPS training program in two areas--the PICU and SICU--that had demonstrated successful ability to innovate suggests that the training was successful.
authors.affiliation: University of North Carolina Health Care, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA. cmayer@unch.unc.edu
authors.forename: Celeste M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Mayer
authors.forename: Laurie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cluff
authors.forename: Wei-Ting
authors.initials: WT
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Tina Schade
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Willis
authors.forename: Renae E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Stafford
authors.forename: Christa
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: Roger
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Saunders
authors.forename: Kathy A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Short
authors.forename: Nancy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lenfestey
authors.forename: Heather L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Kane
authors.forename: Jacqueline B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Amoozegar
mesh_terms: D000046:Academic Medical Centers; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D003422:Critical Care / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards*; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D015199:Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D057209:Hospital Rapid Response Team / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D007318:Inservice Training / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards; D015278:Intensive Care Units, Pediatric / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards*; D033183:Interdisciplinary Communication; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D019370:Observation; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards*; D015397:Program Evaluation / Q000379:methods; D017751:Safety Management / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards*; D013997:Time Factors; D000078329:Workforce