Communication and teamwork problems account for 75% of clinical adverse events. Newborns in neonatal intensive care units (NICU) are at risk of acute events and often require immediate resuscitation. Care team members must therefore master the technical (resuscitation) and non-technical (teamwork and communication) skills required to ensure patient safety.

A neonatology team at CHU de Sainte-Justine therefore set to work creating the Neo In Situ program. It develops on-site interdisciplinary simulations in the NICU to improve professionals’ communication and teamwork skills.

Every two weeks, the care team takes part in a simulation, followed by a debriefing. During this meeting, the team analyzes its actions and develops recommendations for improving practices. After each simulation, participants and instructors must complete a questionnaire to assess satisfaction with and impact of the activity. Analysis shows that during each simulation, teams raise between three and six elements directly related to safety and quality of care, such as closed-loop communication, the need for quick help, assigning a leader and mobilizing resources. These observations have already led to changes to the NICU during critical situations with patients.

Eventually, the Neo In Situ team plans to share its acquired expertise with the Quebec network to provide safe and high-quality care across neonatal units.

Project submitted par Audrey Larone Juneau, infirmière au CHU Sainte-Justine et ses collègues.