Critical Care Teamwork in the Future: The Role of TeamSTEPPS(®) in the COVID-19 Pandemic and Implications for the Future

At our institution, we observed inconsistency in the application of structural facilitators for interprofessional teamwork such as handoffs and communication of contingency planning, complete formation and engagement of teams on interprofessional rounds, regular situation monitoring, interprofessional huddles, use of “check back” during code situations, and standard debriefings after codes and procedures (TeamSTEPPS(®)). To enhance team performance, we piloted TeamSTEPPS(®) training and reinforcement for all healthcare team members in the medical intensive care unit (MICU), inclusive of trainees, advanced practice providers (APPs), nurses, and respiratory therapists rotating through the unit. Seven months after the training launch, the initial COVID-19 surge interrupted the reinforcement stage of the pilot providing an opportunity to study the retention of TeamSTEPPS(®) principles and its potential role in response to a crisis. We conducted interprofessional focus groups after a year of crisis management during the pandemic. Themes revealed how TeamSTEPPS(®) training impacted teamwork and communication, as well as factors that influenced the use of TeamSTEPPS(®). This work points to the value of team training in unexpected scenarios. Additional studies at multiple sites are needed to determine scalability for all MICU teams or for onboarding new team members.