Situational Awareness: What it Means for Clinicians, its Recognition and Importance in Patient Safety

Dr. Peter Brennan, oral and maxillofacial surgeon and Professor and Head of Academic Department of Surgery at the University of Portsmouth, spoke with Dr. John O’Keefe about an article he has recently published, titled: Situational awareness – what it means for clinicians, its recognition and importance in patient safety

Highlights

The term “situational awareness” is the ability to understand “where you are and what is going on around you”. This concept can be applied in any circumstance, including clinical settings but, was first conceived during the Korean War when U.S. pilots wanted to know where their enemy was located.

Factors such as information overload or intense concentration/focus can reduce our situational awareness in the clinical setting. During these instances, one becomes tunnel-visioned and lose the awareness of time and space. At these times, especially in crisis situations, critical decision-making skills may be hampered and errors occur.

It is important to adopt a few behaviours to maintain optimal situational awareness:

• Morning brief
• Understand that situational awareness can change throughout the day
• Optimize clinicians physical health- adequate nutrition/hydration  and taking regular mental breaks

H.A.L.T. – Hungry. Angry. Lonely/Late. Tired.
Whatever is happening in the clinician’s life may affect your situational awareness

Teamwork is essential and “hierarchical challenge” should be commonplace to allow for a safe, secure environment for both patients and the dental team.

Watch the short version of the video interview

Watch the full version of the video interview