Teamwork and Patient Safety View PDF

Ricardo J Losardo
Medicine, Universidad Del Salvador, Argentina

Published on: 2024-11-06

Abstract

This article relates teamwork to patient safety and the importance of teaching it in university courses. This arises due to the growing complexity of the health system, which presents greater possibilities of error. In this way, teamwork appears as a fundamental tool for professional practice. Technological advancement led to a cultural transformation and the horizontalization of the organizational structure, although the figure of the leader continues to be important so as not to lose the traditional humanistic approach. A university education must address this problem from the moment the student enters until he or she graduates to improve decision-making and provide security.

Keywords

Patient safety, Medical error, Medical education, Organizational management, Health team

Introduction

The concept that a health team should “work as a team” seems obvious. However, everyday reality challenges it on more than one occasion. The main objective of such group work is to be more efficient and to be able to prevent, diagnose, provide the correct therapy and guarantee follow-up [1].

With the growing complexity of the health system, the challenge for its organizations is greater every day. The team, that is, the human resources destined to solve the patient’s problems, are more exposed due to their natural vulnerability and are more prone to involuntary mistakes. When the “work team” is formed and consolidated, it achieves a better impact on patient safety [2].