ORCID

0009-0004-4215-761X

Date of Award

Spring 4-22-2023

Document Type

Project

Degree Name

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

Department

Nursing

Advisor

Dr. Chai Sribanditmongkol, Ph.D., RN, IBCLC, CNS, Project Team Leader/Advisor

First Committee Member

Dr. Joy Shoemaker, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, CNE, Project Team Member

Second Committee Member

Dr. Regina Prusinski, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, CPNP-AC, Project Team Member

Keywords

Medical Errors, Patient Safety, TeamSTEPPS®, Outpatient Care Setting, Ambulatory Care, Attitudes and Perceptions, Teamwork, Evidence-based Practice Communication Strategies

Subject Categories

Family Practice Nursing | Medicine and Health Sciences

Abstract

Medical errors account up to 250,000 patient deaths annually. Research suggests medical errors are attributable to poor healthcare team communications. The Institute of Medicine posits that communication and teamwork are essential components to safe and successful health care environments. According to the Joint Commission poor communication is considered the root cause of nearly 80% of all serious medical errors. Consequently, the Department of Defense and Agency for Healthcare Research and Research created a team-based training program, known as TeamSTEPPS®, which has shown to improve team communication, performance, effectiveness, patient safety, satisfaction, and health outcomes in healthcare settings. Despite evidence supporting TeamSTEPPS®, one family practice clinic was not practicing standardized team communications and at an increased risk for potential miscommunications, medical errors, and adverse patient health outcomes. Consideration of perceptions and attitudes of staff before implementing system process changes like TeamSTEPPS® is important to ensure program success. Thus, the project’s purpose was to assess and describe the staff attitudes, perceptions, and intent to make change, regarding team communication as it relates to clinic patient care and safety. The descriptive scholarly project focused on staff questionnaire responses about perceived team communications and intent to change communication processes in a clinic setting. A systematic data review indicated 86% of respondents agreed the clinic was at risk for committing medical errors, 71% strongly agreed a standardized communication method would benefit the clinic, and 64% of respondents remained neutral regarding to the staff receiving TeamSTEPPS®. Thus, more research is warranted before effective implementation and sustainment can occur at the clinical project site.

Acknowledgement 1

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Acknowledgement 2

1

Licensing Permission

Copyright, all rights reserved. Fair Use

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