Continuous interprofessional coordination in perioperative work: an exploratory study

Abstract

Coordination of perioperative work is challenging. Advancements in diagnostic and therapeutic possibilities have not been followed by similar advancements in the ability to coordinate care. In this paper, we report on a study that explored the nature of continuous coordination as practiced by perioperative staff in order to coordinate their own activities with respect to those of their colleagues. We conducted in-depth interviews (n = 14), and combined observations and focused interviews (n = 31) with perioperative staff (physicians, nurses, technicians, and cleaners) at a major university hospital in Norway. Data were analysed qualitatively with systematic text condensation. The results indicated that a surgical schedule was important for informing staff members about the cases and tasks they had been assigned. Staff also depended on ad hoc, explicit communication to ensure timeliness of particular perioperative activities. This, however, left little room for adjustments of other activities. Hence, to be able to proactively coordinate their own work some staff tried to predict future perioperative activities by observing the workplace, monitoring the surgical scheduling software for changes, and sharing their colleagues' progress updates and predictions. These findings could be important for those developing support for perioperative coordination.

• Interprofessional collaboration
• Interprofessional coordination
• information systems
• patient care management
• qualitative methods
• scheduling
• staffing

Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge the contributions of St Olav's Hospital, Tobias Buschman Iversen, Line Melby, Ero Karlsen, Lars Edgar Onsøyen, Andreas Seim, Erlend A. Gjære, Jens Erik Slagsvold and Tor Erik Evjemo.

Declaration of interest

This study was funded by Norwegian Research Council (The VERDIKT program). The authors report no conflicts of interests. The authors alone are responsible for the writing and content of this paper.