The challenge of working together: documentation collaboration.

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Surgical Care Coordination
• Interprofessional Communication

Background:

• Traditional preoperative assessments often create parallel workflows, limiting interdepartmental collaboration.
• Staff may perceive their roles narrowly within specific units like the Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) or Operating Room (OR).
• Effective surgical care necessitates seamless communication and teamwork across all phases of patient management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of duplicating preoperative assessments on staff collaboration.
• To explore methods for enhancing communication and teamwork in surgical care settings.
• To promote a shift in staff perception towards a unified surgical care team.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of staff workflows and communication patterns before and after implementing a duplicated preoperative assessment process.
• Qualitative assessment of staff reflections on their roles and team dynamics.
• Implementation of collaborative documentation strategies to foster shared understanding.

Main Results:

• Duplicating the preoperative assessment resulted in parallel, rather than collaborative, staff activities.
• The collaborative documentation process prompted staff to reconsider their roles beyond departmental boundaries.
• A shift in perspective was observed, with staff beginning to see themselves as part of a larger surgical care group.

Conclusions:

• Siloed departmental structures, even when processes are duplicated, can impede effective collaboration.
• Promoting interprofessional communication through collaborative documentation is key to fostering a unified surgical care team.
• Encouraging staff to reflect on their roles within the broader context of surgical care improves teamwork and patient-centeredness.