Creating a Culture of Safety in the Emergency Department The Value of Teamwork Training

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine if teamwork training improved employees' perception of the culture of safety in the emergency department. BACKGROUND: Communication failure is frequently the root cause of medication errors, delays in treatment, and wrong-site surgery, leading to an estimated 200 000 deaths annually in the United States. METHODS: Independent sample comparison study with a quantitative design was conducted with staff who received teamwork training. Posttraining perceptions were measured using the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality's patient safety culture survey. RESULTS: The average score for the 12 domains increased by 9% in positive responses after training. One domain (nonpunitive response to error) had a decrease in the percentage positive score. CONCLUSION: Training on teamwork skills can lead to a positive improvement of staff perception related to a culture of safety among emergency department staff.