Psychological Safety in the OR Improves Outcomes and Performance   

When psychological safety is combined with discipline, shared accountability, and high expectations, it can lead to better outcomes, enhanced problem-solving, an optimized learning environment, increased adaptability, and improved psychological health for all members of the surgical team.

A May Bulletin feature article examines how a “psychologically safe” work environment is one in which employees share the belief that interpersonal risk-taking is safe. There is growing evidence that hierarchical behavior such as discouraging speaking up on potential errors not only exacerbates an already high-stress environment, but also negatively impacts team function, morale, and patient outcomes.

The article examines key concepts, such as “radical candor,” and how their application can build a stronger, higher-functioning surgical team that exhibits improved mental health.

“We think big failures come out of the blue, but they’re actually on top of a pile of often underreported near misses,” said Amy C. Edmondson, PhD, professor of leadership and management at Harvard Business School in Cambridge, Massachusetts, who also is a psychological safety expert.  “The more we hear about what’s really going on, the higher the reliability of our processes and the better we are able to prevent the big, bad ones.”

Read the article, and view the May Bulletin Table of Contents.