title: Emotional intelligence in the operating room: analysis from the Boston Marathon bombing.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The Boston Marathon terrorist bombing that occurred on April 15, 2013 illustrates the importance of a cohesive, efficient management for the operating room and perioperative services. Conceptually, emotional intelligence (EI) is a form of social intelligence used by individuals in leadership positions to monitor the feelings and emotions of their team while implementing a strategic plan.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To describe the experience of caring for victims of the bombing at a large tertiary care center and provide examples demonstrating the importance of EI and its role in the management of patient flow and overall care.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective review of trauma data was performed. Data regarding patient flow, treatment types, treatment times, and outcomes were gathered from the hospital's electronic tracking system and subsequently analyzed. Analyses were performed to aggregate the data, identify trends, and describe the medical care.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Immediately following the bombing, a total of 35 patients were brought to the emergency department (ED) with injuries requiring immediate medical attention. 10 of these patients went directly to the operating room on arrival to the hospital. The first victim was in an operating room within 21 minutes after arrival to the ED.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The application of EI in managerial decisions helped to ensure smooth transitions for victims throughout all stages of their perioperative care. EI provided the fundamental groundwork that allowed the operating room manager and nurse leaders to establish the calm and coordinated leadership that facilitated patient care and teamwork.
authors: Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors: Beverly P
authors: BP
authors: Chang
authors: Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors: Joshua C
authors: JC
authors: Vacanti
authors: Trauma and Burn Program, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors: Yvonne
authors: Y
authors: Michaud
authors: Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors: Hugh
authors: H
authors: Flanagan
authors: Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors: Richard D
authors: RD
authors: Urman
mesh_terms: D054042:Bombs; D001900:Boston; D004189:Disaster Planning / Q000458:organization & administration; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration*; D056348:Emotional Intelligence; D006801:Humans; D007857:Leadership; D009873:Operating Rooms / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000458:organization & administration; D019990:Perioperative Care; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D023481:Terrorism; D014218:Triage / Q000458:organization & administration