It is incredible how team work is undervalued in our profession….It is probably the single most important factor for achieving good clinical outcomes but it is also the most under appreciated and undervalued traits in modern heath care.
Often we as surgeons are proud of our outcomes. “I did a colectomy, I did a Laparatomy, I saved a life ” is the default terminology in our line of work….i rarely come across “We did a Hartmanns or We did a cholcystectony”. Being the self centered egoistic bunch we are , with our Type A personalities, it is not surprising that team work is often hidden and shrouded in egoistic apprach to any thing we do!!
Not surprisingly, studies have also shown that our perception of team work is also incredibly skewed. In one study >80% of surgeons though their team work is excellent but 40% nurses agreed to that assesment 🙂 This is often the case in the real world too!!
How can we improve ?
1. Treat every team member with respect
2 Value all team members – afterall we are one team!
3 Replace ” I ” with ” We”
4 Understand the limitations and strengths of each team member
5. Let go of your Ego!!!
Surgery is a team sport….Gone are the days of Arrogant and controlling ego maniac surgeons!! Either we move with the times and change…or quite literally become extinct like the “dinosourus”:)
Catch you in a bit!! Safe surgery !
LBS
Surgery-the good bad and ugly 