Operating theatres
despite the team briefing. Effective collaboration within operating
theatre teams and between specialties is critical, especially during crisis situations, to facilitate a safe outcome for the patient.7
The WHO states
that communication interventions, such as team briefings and debriefings, aid in task completion and foster a culture of open communication. It points out that such interventions “standardise processes and act as reminders, so that team members need not rely solely on memory recall.”6
However, due to name badges not being
worn, memory recall is consistently required to remember who everyone is.
Names and roles on theatre caps The implementation of name and role theatre caps, in operating theatres in the UK, has provided an abundance of advantages. Having names on hats has improved communication, reduced hierarchical barriers, and enhanced human factors – all of which play a part in improving patient safety. Other benefits include an improved patient
journey and reduced patient anxiety. In a case study, published by the Centre for Sustainable Healthcare, it was highlighted that patients undergoing surgical procedures come into contact with several team members; knowing who they are talking to helps them feel more comfortable.3 Since 2018, various hospitals have been trying
to use their theatre caps to identify who they are. Situating the names and roles above where eye contact is made is the easiest place to identify who people are, including all staff who wear sterile attire such as surgical gowns. Yeovil Hospital has adopted a simple yet effective method for improving communication and patient satisfaction by writing on their
disposable caps each day. This strategy, though practical, is not particularly sustainable, as it relies on disposable materials. However, the staff have found that it significantly enhances communication within the team and improves the patient experience. Patients have expressed a strong preference for knowing who is providing their care, which builds trust and reassures them. Some hospitals have also implemented bespoke embroidered hats as a way of identifying who they are. The handful of hospitals that have been
fortunate enough to have the time, drive, and collaborative support to implement embroidered reusable theatre hats have encountered several challenges, as bespoke embroidery is a complex process. Hospital uniforms and surgical scrubs typically don’t feature personalised names or roles for a good reason. Factors like hair length must be considered, as relying solely on head circumference is not sufficient. I’ve known nurses who have had to guess their hat size, only to find that when their hats arrive, they cannot wear them because their hair length wasn’t accounted for and needs to be accommodated inside the hat. This leads to significant waste and inefficiencies. With embroidered hats, clinicians usually have four hats each (for home laundering cycles), these hats or assets are lost by the hospital each time someone leaves, and some hospitals have expressed to me that their staff turnover can be as high as 25% annually! As new starters come on board, the department inevitably ends up reverting to disposables again and the cycle continues.
Theatre badge hats My experiences of being mistaken in many situations, under various roles, combined with
my passion for patient safety, led me to innovate a fabric theatre hat which can identify every single person in the operating theatre, including students, visitors, reps and birthing partners. The theatre badge hats from Eco Ninjas are a recombinant innovation, which is the process of combining an existing product/idea in a new creative way. The theatre badge hat range that Eco Ninjas has innovated is designed to combine sustainability and identification of everyone in operating theatres, and includes hats for different cultures and religions. The solution also facilitates efficient infection control measures. The simple addition of a name badge on a fabric theatre hat can make a significant impact on both staff and patients. It can help to break down the communication barriers which will ultimately contribute to enhanced patient safety. The hats can remain within the department, whether laundered at home or centrally, ensuring they are not lost by the Trust who purchased them. The complexity of ordering bespoke sizes for each individual is eliminated, as all hats can be laundered and easily worn interchangeably by any member of the surgical team, much like scrubs. The surgical environment is complex enough;
by clearly displaying name badges in a position where eye contact can be made, staff can easily identify each other, leading to improved communication, better quality of care, and a more positive working environment.
Hierarchical barriers The operating theatre is a setting where patient harm and medical errors often happen, many of which are preventable.4
Regardless of the
level of experience, it is essential to empower and respect every member of the surgical team,
Above: Without name badges, it can be difficult to remember who everyone is or to know what their role is within the team. Misunderstandings can occur and team working can be impacted.
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www.clinicalservicesjournal.com I February 2025
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