How does writing names and roles on caps improve patient safety?
It simply improves the ability of staff members to remember one
another's first names, which is great for developing camaraderie and
addressing someone directly. When we hear our name, we focus on it
despite the noise and conversations around us. Addressing colleagues
by name when providing instructions in a busy OR leads to more
rapid task completion. Unfortunately, even when we're not distracted,
we typically remember only 30% of names after first introduction.
That's why writing names on caps is important.
Does noting names and roles also build trust between patients and
staff?
Absolutely. Patients meet several staff members when they enter the
OR. It's comforting and creates personal connections when they see
the names and roles of the many masked faces who are caring for
them. We've received feedback from all over the world, and one
intriguing survey indicated that staff who displayed their names and
roles on their caps were much more willing to speak up when they
saw a safety-related problem.
How do you feel about the remarkable response to the movement
you started?
I'm certainly inspired. We need to redesign surgical care on the prem-
ise that doctors and nurses are human and make mistakes, which can
lead to catastrophic events in our high-risk industry. Working together,
and noting who we are and what we do on surgical caps, will help to
create the best environment for safe patient care.
OSM
Dr. Hackett (roberthackett@icloud.com) is an anesthesiologist based in
Sydney, Australia.
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