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Can Name Recognition Allow for More Efficient Dynamics in the Emergency
Setting?
Ondrus, R, D.O., Whyte. S, D.O., Graves, P, M.D.
Kent Hospital Department of Emergency Medicine, Warwick, RI
Introduction: The emergency department is a unique setting in the world of medicine
where not uncommonly, chaos abounds. Certain emergent situations create an
atmosphere of high tension where teams of healthcare workers must come together and
provide efficient, safe and rapidly delivered care. During such events, such as a major
trauma or a pediatric cardiopulmonary resuscitation, a team leader ideally can quickly
organize a team and maintain control over the situation while simultaneously making
critical clinical decisions.
Within all emergency departments, healthcare personnel with different training
and skill sets must work together cohesively to deliver patient care. This teamwork can
be compromised because the turnover rate of personnel in the emergency department is
comparatively high and is it is often difficult to learn the names of new personnel in this
high-stress, fast-paced work environment. When the need arises for a group of
healthcare providers to work together as a team, we believe it would be more efficient
and build stronger teamwork within the department if name recognition of all co-workers
existed. We postulate that the creation of an easily accessible photo composite
including all emergency department employees would improve teamwork in the
emergency department.
Methods: The study design consisted of an online survey provided to all members of the
emergency department staff before and after the photo composite was created and
distributed. The survey consisted of thirteen questions answered using a numbered
scale. Three of the questions required a written answer. A color photo composite was
then distributed in the department available for all staff members to view, which included
the full name and job position of each staff member. The follow-up online survey was
then sent out which included the same initial thirteen questions with the addition of two
new questions.
Results: We found that the majority of employees (61.5%) used the photo composite
and that 64.2% of them found it useful. After the release of the composite, the sense of
“strong teamwork” improved by 30%. It is reasonable to conclude that a large number of
employees are not comfortable with the names of at least a portion of their coworkers.
Our goal was to find a way to make it easier for staff to learn the names of all coworkers
in the department and ultimately allow for improved teamwork and group dynamics. We
were able to achieve this goal by creating an easily accessible photo composite of
emergency department staff. In conclusion, our small study investigated the impact of a
photo composite on the teamwork within the emergency department and found it to be a
beneficial tool.
Conclusion: By providing employees with a photo composite of emergency department
staff we found that teamwork and group dynamics were improved.