Identifying Deteriorating Patients Through Multidisciplinary Team Training. (November 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Merriel, Abi; van der Nelson, Helen; Merriel, Sam; Bennett, Joanne; Donald, Fiona; Draycott, Timothy; Siassakos, Dimitrios
• Is Part Of: American journal of medical quality. Volume 31:Number 6(2016:Nov./Dec.)
• Page Start: 589
• Page End: 595
• Publication Date: 2016-11
• Subjects: multiprofessional training -- simulation -- Early Warning Score -- teamwork training; Medical care -- Quality control -- Periodicals; Medical care -- Evaluation -- Periodicals; Medical care -- Utilization review -- Periodicals; Medical care -- United States -- Periodicals; 362.1
• DOI: 10.1177/1062860615598573
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1062-8606

Abstract

Multidisciplinary training has improved maternity outcomes when the training has been well attended, regular, in house, used high-fidelity simulators, and integrated teamwork training. If these principles were used in other settings, better clinical care may result. This before-after study sought to establish whether a short multidisciplinary training intervention can improve recognition of the deteriorating patient using an aggregated physiological parameter scoring system (Early Warning Score [EWS]). Nursing, medical, and allied nursing staff participated in an hour-long training session, using real-life scenarios with simple tools and structured debriefing. After training, staff were more likely to calculate EWS scores correctly (68.02% vs 55.12%; risk ratio [RR] = 1.24, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.07-1.44), and observations were more likely to be performed at the correct frequency (78.57% vs 68.09%; RR = 1.20, 95% CI = 1.09-1.32). Multidisciplinary training, according to core principles, can lead to more accurate identification of deteriorating patients, with implications for subsequent care and outcome.