Safer Australian Surgical Teamwork

Course Overview

Research shows that a breakdown in non-technical skills (NTS) frequently contributes to adverse outcomes. The training offered in the SAST workshops addressed these breakdowns, and thereby improved safety in the operating theatre and patient outcomes.

This project brought together surgeons, anaesthetists and scrub practitioners for eight one day workshops between 2014 and 2015. These were collaborative, cross-disciplined  workshops, improving situational awareness, decision making, leadership, task management, communication skills and teamwork. They utilised three behavioural marker frameworks – Non-Technical Skills for Surgeons (NOTSS), Anaesthetists’ Non-Technical Skills (ANTS) and Scrub Practitioners’ List of Intra-operative Non-Technical Skills (SPLINTS) developed by The University of Aberdeen, Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh and the National Health Service.

The below videos were used during these workshops. They were produced by RACS in conjunction with the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists (ANZCA), the Australian College of Nursing (ACN), and the Australian College of Operating Room Nurses (ACORN).

SAST Video Content (auto-download)

Scenario 1 – Communication (Post-Thyroid Bleed)

• Poor Outcome
• Good Outcome

Scenario 2 – Situational Awareness (Adenoidectomy)

• Poor Outcome
• Good Outcome

Scenario 3 – Leadership and Teamwork (Sigmoid Colectomy)

• Poor Outcome
• Good Outcome