Surgery
Improve Surgical Culture
Improve Surgical Culture
We lead the Surgical Quality Action Network (SQAN), which uses innovative approaches to improve teamwork and communication among surgical teams, engage patients as well as track and evaluate patient outcomes through the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program.
Almost 450 health care providers have joined SQAN, using it as a forum to share best practices, leverage data to inform improvement and connect to share and spread local innovation.
SQAN coordinates and aligns these broad efforts within the Ministry of Health’s Surgical Services Strategy, the Surgical Action Plan and emerging initiatives such as the Measurement System for Physician Quality Improvement.
Fill out the form below learn more to join over 450 multidisciplinary clinicians working to improve surgical services in BC and to stay informed about our work, events and learning opportunities. You will be informed of our work, events and learning opportunities through a (typically) monthly newsletter that originates from our provider, CyberImpact, and you can unsubscribe at any time. Questions? Contact us at surgery@bcpsqc.ca.
This information is collected by the BC Patient Safety & Quality Council under section 26(c) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act and will be used for the purposes of event administration and to distribute newsletters. If you have any questions about the collection of this information, please contact us at info@bcpsqc.ca.
Improve Surgical Culture
Good surgical outcomes depend on technical excellence, but a surgical team’s performance is also affected by the cognitive and inter-personal skills that team members bring to the job.
The attitudes, beliefs, and behaviours colleagues share with each other make up their collective culture – “the way we do things around here.” In surgery, culture influences how well we work together, how well we communicate with each other, our dedication to safety and, ultimately, how well we care for patients.
In 2012, a Surgical Quality Action Network initiative used the Safety Attitudes Questionnaire to measure safety culture in operating rooms. The survey was completed by staff in 70 acute care units across 14 BC hospitals and results showed significant gaps in the percentage of OR caregivers who reported “high” or “very high” levels of communication and collaboration with each other:
Additional studies have shown a relationship between surgical team culture and the rate of adverse events. Culture is also a major factor in change management, which means it can impact surgical departments’ engagement in improvement initiatives such as the surgical checklist and NSQIP.
Thankfully, positive shifts in workplace culture are linked to improved system-related and clinical outcomes, reduced adverse events and increased patient satisfaction. They also have tangible benefits for health care providers, teams and organizations by reducing work-related conflict and stress, fostering team communication to lessen harassment and bullying, and improving job satisfaction and perceptions of working conditions.1
Take a look at resources below for improving team communication, or learn more about improving culture.
Resources
Teamwork & Communication Action Series
We offer a free and interactive 13 week Action Series that focuses on skills and tools to improve teamwork and communication on your team. In the first two waves of the Action Series, nearly 90 teams have participated with over 600 total participants from across BC!
Learn more about the Series
Culture Change Toolbox
Our Culture Change Toolbox features 21 tools and interventions for changing culture, along with tips on how to apply them.
The toolbox outlines the steps that we can take to shift culture in health care: engaging people, setting foundations, assessing the current state, identifying and analyzing opportunities, choosing tools, and testing changes.
Download the Toolbox
How Well Does Your Team Communicate?
This three-minute video and companion guide help to address “the elephant in the room” and improve your group’s teamwork and communication.
After watching the video, use the guide to facilitate a debriefing conversation with your team. By engaging teams with a creative and non-clinical example, we hope to provide an opportunity to hone your observation skills and work to develop and improve how your team communicates.
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References
- Braithwaite J, Herkes J, Ludlow K et al. Association between organizational and workplace cultures, and patient outcomes: systematic review. BMJ Open 2017; 7: 1-12