Using Trauma Video Review to Assess EMS Handoff and Trauma Team Non-Technical Skills. (2nd January 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Nagaraj, Madhuri B.; Lowe, Jessica E.; Marinica, Alexander L.; Morshedi, Brandon B.; Isaacs, S. Marshal; Miller, Brian L.; Chou, Andrew D.; Cripps, Michael W.; Dumas, Ryan P.
• Is Part Of: Prehospital emergency care. Volume 27:Number 1(2023)
• Page Start: 10
• Page End: 17
• Publication Date: 2023-01-02
• Subjects: 362.18
• DOI: 10.1080/10903127.2021.2000684
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1090-3127

Abstract

Abstract: Objective: Handoffs by emergency medical services (EMS) personnel suffer from poor structure, inattention, and interruptions. The relationship between the quality of EMS communication and the non-technical performance of trauma teams remains unknown. Methods: We analyzed 3 months of trauma resuscitation videos (highest acuity activations or patients with an Injury Severity Score [ISS] of ≥15). Handoffs were scored using the mechanism-injury-signs-treatment (MIST) framework for completeness (0–20), efficiency (category jumps), interruptions, and timeliness. Trauma team non-technical performance was scored using the Trauma Non-Technical Skills (T-NOTECHS) scale (5–15). Results: We analyzed 99 videos. Handoffs lasted a median of 62 seconds [IQR: 43–74], scored 11 [10–13] for completeness, and had 2 [1–3] interruptions. Most interruptions were verbal (85.2%) and caused by the trauma team (64.9%). Most handoffs (92%) were efficient with 2 or fewer jumps. Patient transfer during handoff occurred in 53.5% of the videos; EMS providers giving handoff helped transfer in 69.8% of the Primary surveys began during handoff in 42.4% of the videos. Resuscitation teams who scored in the top-quartile on the T-NOTECHS (>11) had higher MIST scores than teams in lower quartiles (13 [11.25–14.75] vs. 11 [10–13]; p < .01). There were no significant differences in ISS, efficiency, timeliness, or interruptions between top- and lower-quartile groups. Conclusions: There is a relationship between EMS MIST completeness and high performance of non-technical skill by trauma teams. Trauma video review (TVR) can help identify modifiable behaviors to improve EMS handoff and resuscitation efforts and therefore trauma team performance.