title: Creating a culture of safety in the emergency department: the value of teamwork training.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to determine if teamwork training improved employees' perception of the culture of safety in the emergency department.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Communication failure is frequently the root cause of medication errors, delays in treatment, and wrong-site surgery, leading to an estimated 200 000 deaths annually in the United States.
  
  
  METHODS
  Independent sample comparison study with a quantitative design was conducted with staff who received teamwork training. Posttraining perceptions were measured using the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality's patient safety culture survey.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The average score for the 12 domains increased by 9% in positive responses after training. One domain (nonpunitive response to error) had a decrease in the percentage positive score.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Training on teamwork skills can lead to a positive improvement of staff perception related to a culture of safety among emergency department staff.
authors.affiliation: Methodist South Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA. florence.jones@mlh.org
authors.forename: Florence
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: Pradeep
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Podila
authors.forename: Cynthia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Powers
mesh_terms: D003142:Communication; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D004493:Education; D016529:Emergency Nursing / Q000193:education* / Q000458:organization & administration*; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000458:organization & administration*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D017751:Safety Management / Q000379:methods*; D013714:Tennessee