Research published in the AORN Journal suggests the length of time surgical teams have worked together is inversely related to the prevalence of miscommunications during surgery.
According to the report, up to 30 percent of procedure-specific information could be lost due to miscommunication. For the study, researchers analyzed 160 procedures in 10 specialties over a six-month period to determine any relationships between interruptions, team familiarity and miscommunication.
In addition to team familiarity, the researchers found a positive connection between the frequency of intraoperative interruptions and the frequency of miscommunications. They concluded providers may need to establish evidence-based protocols that target these risks to prevent miscommunication during surgery.
According to the report, up to 30 percent of procedure-specific information could be lost due to miscommunication. For the study, researchers analyzed 160 procedures in 10 specialties over a six-month period to determine any relationships between interruptions, team familiarity and miscommunication.
In addition to team familiarity, the researchers found a positive connection between the frequency of intraoperative interruptions and the frequency of miscommunications. They concluded providers may need to establish evidence-based protocols that target these risks to prevent miscommunication during surgery.
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