Hospitals in pursuit of excellence

Teamwork Improves Culture and Care

Teamwork champions on a diverse change team: These were key as The MetroHealth System in Cleveland enhanced its patient safety culture and engaged and empowered staff using TeamSTEPPS®—Team Strategies and Tools to Enhance Performance and Patient Safety. The 700-bed public health care system incorporated teamwork into its mission statement and core values. Then a change team of clinical and nonclinical staff moved forward with the TeamSTEPPS train-the-trainer model. MetroHealth started implementing teamwork strategies and tools in high-risk areas including its ED, trauma unit, SICU, NICU, and labor and delivery. The health care system has worked to create a culture of safety where everyone not only speaks up about concerns but also contributes to resolving the issues. For example, using TeamSTEPPS strategies and complex simulation, ED staff developed a patient management protocol that was evaluated by the CDC. As a result, MetroHealth is now one of 55 Ebola treatment centers in the U.S. Overall, MetroHealth has improved patient safety, outcomes and satisfaction and boosted staff morale and retention.

For more information, contact Robert L. Smith, director, Medical Staff Assistance Program and TeamSTEPPS Regional Training Center, at rsmith3@metrohealth.org.

Read the complete case study by downloading the guide “Improving Patient Safety Culture through Teamwork and Communication: TeamSTEPPS®.”