Multidisciplinary Team Training and the Art of Communication

Crew resource management has been effectively used for more than 20 years to reduce error and improve communication in the aviation industry. The healthcare industry began to investigate aviation crew resource management after an Institute of Medicine report recommended that medicine adopt aviation's approach to safety and error management. Effective teamwork training uses several key techniques and methods that can be used to actively engage all members of the healthcare team. This article describes these methods including briefings, checklists, and communication techniques that can foster an environment of mutual respect, particularly as they apply to “hand-offs” in care.

Keywords: healthcare crew resource management, hand-offs, healthcare communication, team training