What is a challenge that TeamSTEPPS aims to address in healthcare teams?

TeamSTEPPS specifically targets poor communication and coordination within healthcare teams as a significant challenge in delivering safe and effective patient care. Effective teamwork is essential in healthcare settings where collaborative efforts often directly impact patient outcomes. By focusing on improving communication processes, TeamSTEPPS provides strategies and tools that help teams enhance their interactions, ensure information is accurately shared, and facilitate better decision-making.

When communication barriers exist, it can lead to misunderstandings, errors, and a decrease in overall team performance. Therefore, TeamSTEPPS emphasizes developing skills in communication, including open dialogue, feedback mechanisms, and structured communication techniques, to foster an environment where team members can work effectively together. This culmination of better communication and coordinated efforts aligns with the overarching goal of improving patient safety and team performance in healthcare environments.