Abstract
The emergency medical service as a high-risk workplace is a danger to patient safety. A main factor for patient safety, but also at the same time a main factor for patient harm, is team communication. Team communication is multidimensional and occurs before, during, and after the patient's treatment. In an online based, anonymous and single-blinded study, medical and non-medical employees in the emergency medical services were asked about team communication, and communication errors. Seven hundred and fourteen medical and non-medical rescue workers from all over Germany took part. Among them, 72.0% had harmed at least one patient during their work. With imprecise communication, 81.7% rarely asked for clarification. Also, 66.3% saw leadership behavior as the cause of poor communication; 46.0% could not talk to their superiors about errors. Of note, 96.3% would like joint training of medical and non-medical employees in communication. Deficits in team communication occur frequently in the rescue service. There is a clear need for uniform training in team and communication skills in all professions.
Highlights
Acute and critically ill patients require fast and precise life-saving treatment
Anonymous and single-blinded study, medical and non-medical employees in the emergency medical services were asked about team communication, and communication errors
Sex, and professional training as Emergency Medical Service (EMS) worker, interviewees are representative for Germany [16, 17]
Summary
Acute and critically ill patients require fast and precise life-saving treatment. The German Emergency Medical Service (EMS) handles more than eleven million missions a year. Communication of preclinical emergency teams in critical situations. The emergency medical service as a high-risk workplace is a danger to patient safety. A main factor for patient safety, and at the same time a main factor for patient harm, is team communication. Team communication is multidimensional and occurs before, during, and after the patient’s treatment
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