OR Team Training
At CCI Anesthesia, we are huge proponents of medical team training programs. When surgical teams are in sync and running at peak performance levels, benefits abound. Our anesthesia providers know that their roles extend beyond the delivery of anesthesia care—it is their duty to serve as part of a high-functioning team working toward a common goal. Every practice should prioritize team training intervention programs that include all disciplines, including anesthesiology.
Anesthesia’s Role in Medical Team Training Programs
Outsourcing anesthesia services should never result in anesthesia providers becoming exempt from OR team training programs. In fact, anesthesia management groups should support anesthesiology’s participation in medical team training efforts. Whether the training is technical or non-technical, members of the anesthesia department should be included. When all surgical team members are on the same page, surgical outcomes improve, efficiency increases and patient care quality soars.
Technical Cross-training
CCI Anesthesia uses an anesthesia information management system (AIMS) that collects and analyzes anesthesia data. We encourage other departments to access our AIMS to increase the utilization and accuracy of anesthesia data by non-anesthesia medical professionals. Compiling and storing a set of universal data pertaining to anesthesia care is invaluable because it will allow various other departments to make more informed decisions. Armed with data captured by AIMS, your OR management team will be in a better position to make strategic decisions that can lead to:
- Reduced anesthesia drug wastage
- Improved OR turnover times
- More on-time case starts
- Reduced patient time in PACU
Non-Technical Skills for Surgeons (NOTSS)
The Non-Technical Skills for Surgeons (NOTSS) system was written in surgical language for trained surgeons to observe, rate and provide feedback on non-technical skills in a structured manner. NOTSS scores are broken down into four distinct categories of non-technical skills: situational awareness, decision making, communication and teamwork and leadership. It is beneficial to routinely assess and review NOTSS scores while keeping in mind that nearly sixty percent of adverse events occurring during surgery are the result of less-than-optimal teamwork and communication.
Enhancing a Team-Based Approach with Improved Communication
In our experience, it is always worthwhile for surgical teams to periodically engage in team-building exercises that focus on improving communication. Every member of the surgical team should feel valued, important and as though they are essential. Our anesthesia providers are encouraged to view the entire OR staff as a team working toward a common goal—a positive patient outcome. Leveling the playing field in the OR can be a positive element of promoting a culture that values all teammates.
Promoting Collaboration Outside the OR
Outside the operating room, our anesthesia providers are encouraged to serve on hospital committees or in other leadership roles that allow them to help improve operational efficiencies. In these roles, our anesthesia providers are able to regularly collaborate with nursing and administrative staff to ensure everyone is on the same page. When teams work well together, everyone’s job is easier. This is why we offer mentorship opportunities to our boots-on-the-ground anesthesia providers through the CCI Leadership Institute.
Improving Your OR Team Training Efforts
When you partner with CCI Anesthesia, we take on your goals as our own. If your OR team training programs need improvement, we want to help. Supporting OR team training is one of the many ways we create value for our clients. If the end result of any initiative is reduced costs, increased efficiency, improved quality and better clinical outcomes across your health system, hospital or surgery center, we want to be part of it.
Call us today at 800.494.3948 to learn more about how we have been able to help other facilities improve their medical team training programs.