Improving Hospital Patient Safety Through Teamwork: The Use of TeamSTEPPS in CAHs (Policy Brief #21)

This brief, one in a series identifying and assessing evidence-based patient safety and quality improvement interventions appropriate for use by state Flex Programs and CAHs, reviews teamwork and team training which have become a standard, evidence-based intervention in small and larger hospitals alike. The focus is on TeamSTEPPS, a training program developed and disseminated by the Department of Defense and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Key Findings: State Flex programs and CAHs have successfully adapted and used TeamSTEPPS to improve patient safety through team training. The evidence indicates that team training increases communications and reduces error. The success of TeamSTEPPS depends on having appropriate expectations and identifying and cultivating internal champions. Building a patient safety infrastructure helps sustain teamwork