High Performing Surgical Team
Most surgical work takes place in teams, whether in the operating theatre, with colleagues in audit meetings and mortality and morbidity meetings, multi-disciplinary teams (MDT), or in management team meetings. While technical innovation and improvements go a long way in ensuring successful surgery, non-technical skills such as effective team work and communication are essential for ensuring patient safety and for the provision of high quality surgical services.
Who is this guide for?
This document is intended to serve as a practical guide for surgeons who work in teams and for those responsible for developing teams and improving team performance.
What can I learn from this guide?
This guide complements the College’s guidance Surgical Leadership – A Guide to Best Practice and domain 3 of Good Surgical Practice.
It sets out:
- The rationale for effective team working
- The recommended attributes and behaviours expected of a high performing team
- Features which characterise good team working.
This document can also inform training, development and assessment of surgical teams. The focus is on achieving positive outcomes for patients and a culture that promotes openness and safety in surgery.
