Patient Safety Huddles to Improve Teamwork and Communication: Frontline Staff Perspectives

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Assistant Professor in Health Studies, Faculty of Health Studies, University of Bradford, Bradford, UK.

2 Research Fellow, Faculty of Health Studies, University of Bradford, Bradford, UK.

3 Evaluation Programme Lead, Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust Manchester, England, United Kingdom.

4 Professor of Healthcare Quality & Effectiveness, Faculty of Health Studies, University of Bradford, Bradford, UK.

5 Professor of Digital Innovations in Healthcare, Faculty of Health Studies, University of Bradford, Bradford, UK.

6 Consultant Physician, St James’s University Hospital, Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust, Leeds, UK.

7 Director of Nursing, The Improvement Academy, Bradford Institute for Health Research, Bradford, UK.

8 Improvement Academy Director, The Improvement Academy, Bradford Institute for Health Research, Bradford, UK.

Abstract

Introduction:
The Patient Safety Huddle (PSH) is a daily brief multidisciplinary meeting to discuss patient safety threats and actions to mitigate risk. This paper reports on frontline staff perspectives from five UK hospitals across three National Health Service (NHS) trusts (provider organizations) on the impact of PSHs on communication and teamwork. Perspectives were collected at two points– before and after PSHs had been embedded.
Material and Methods:
Frontline teams from 25 wards were invited to complete a paper-based Evaluation Survey. In the first survey, 21 wards participated, generating 137 responses, and in the second survey, five wards participated, eliciting 32 responses. Additional group interviews with five ward teams were conducted (n=19 participants).
Results:
PSHs improved teamwork and communication, both in terms of quality and quantity. The evaluation survey reported improved teamwork (108/137 answered positively) and communication (121/137). In facilitating a non-hierarchical, easily accessible, and fear-free space for discussing patients at risk of harm, the PSH was perceived as engendering a supportive environment for all staff and contributing to an enhanced safety culture.
Conclusion:
Patient Safety Huddles – at both pre and post-embedded stages - were perceived as improving communication and teamwork, resulting in a safe and collegiate environment that facilitates successful information sharing, improved multidisciplinary working, and the development of collective situational awareness. These factors may contribute to enhanced patient safety and quality of care.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

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Journal of Patient Safety & Quality Improvement
Volume 11, Issue 4
October 2023
Pages 189-197

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