Behavioral Crisis Management: A Quality Improvement Pilot for Improving Teamwork in a Primary Care Pediatric Setting

Area of Science:

• Pediatric primary care
• Behavioral health crisis management
• Interprofessional team training

Background:

• Behavioral escalations in children pose safety risks in primary care settings.
• Interprofessional teams trained in crisis resource management (CRM) are more effective in managing behavioral crises.

Purpose of the Study:

• To enhance team performance during pediatric behavioral crises in primary care.
• To assess learner satisfaction with a newly implemented curriculum.

Main Methods:

• An evidence-based curriculum incorporating simulation and didactic techniques was delivered in pediatric primary care offices.
• A pre-post design evaluated team roles, communication, and patient-centered care using the KidSIM Team Performance Scale.
• Post-intervention surveys gathered learner feedback on the educational experience.

Main Results:

• 101 interprofessional participants completed the training across eight sessions.
• Statistically significant improvements in total team performance during simulated behavioral crises were observed (Z = -2.52, p = 0.012).
• Participants provided positive feedback on the program, content, and facilitators.

Conclusions:

• A curriculum utilizing behavioral simulation and CRM principles effectively improved teamwork in pediatric primary care settings.
• The training program was met with overwhelming participant satisfaction.
• Equipping staff with skills for behavioral health crises enhances patient safety and care quality.