An integrative framework for sensor-based measurement of teamwork in healthcare

Abstract

There is a strong link between teamwork and patient safety. Emerging evidence supports the efficacy of teamwork improvement interventions. However, the availability of reliable, valid, and practical measurement tools and strategies is commonly cited as a barrier to long-term sustainment and spread of these teamwork interventions. This article describes the potential value of sensor-based technology as a methodology to measure and evaluate teamwork in healthcare. The article summarizes the teamwork literature within healthcare, including team improvement interventions and measurement. Current applications of sensor-based measurement of teamwork are reviewed to assess the feasibility of employing this approach in healthcare. The article concludes with a discussion highlighting current application needs and gaps and relevant analytical techniques to overcome the challenges to implementation. Compelling studies exist documenting the feasibility of capturing a broad array of team input, process, and output variables with sensor-based methods. Implications of this research are summarized in a framework for development of multi-method team performance measurement systems. Sensor-based measurement within healthcare can unobtrusively capture information related to social networks, conversational patterns, physical activity, and an array of other meaningful information without having to directly observe or periodically survey clinicians. However, trust and privacy concerns present challenges that need to be overcome through engagement of end users in healthcare. Initial evidence exists to support the feasibility of sensor-based measurement to drive feedback and learning across individual, team, unit, and organizational levels. Future research is needed to refine methods, technologies, theory, and analytical strategies.

A review of instruments to measure interprofessional team-based primary care

“…More objective measures of team-based primary care also are needed, because 44 of the 48 instruments identified depended on self-report. An especially promising avenue for future research may be the development of novel methods of team performance measurement that might leverage the growing field of health information technology (Rosen, Dietz, Yang, Priebe, & Pronovost, 2014). Finally, none of the instruments we identified have demonstrated that they are sensitive to change over time in the delivery of team-based care.…”

Monitoring teamwork: a narrative review

“…The use of video recording was reported more commonly than direct observation . A developing research technique is the use of sensors (such as radio frequency identification tags, infrared sensors and accelerometers) to record the position and movement of people or equipment . Teamwork in firefighters has been studied using smartphone sensors .…”

Data Driven Patient Safety and Clinical Information Technology

“…A major effort to extract information from medical devices as well as to motivate vendors to open their systems to the Emerge platform will be key to achieving the full potential of an integrated ICU. Over time, the inclusion of a growing number of automated data streams will enable better real time management of patients as well as the care team itself [ 18 ].…”