How we work as a team and communicate with each other are essential elements of a healthy culture. Improving non-technical skills such as how we communicate, how we respond to the environment around us, and how we work together in a team are crucial for achieving high quality patient care.

We offer a free and interactive 15-week Action Series that focuses on skills and tools to improve teamwork and communication on your team. In the first four cohorts of the Action Series, over 140 teams have participated, with over 950 total participants from across BC and the Yukon!

Cohort 5 Information Session

Resources

Curious about what the action series involve? Check out the resources from previous cohorts! You will find slides, action period guides and supporting activities and reading. Webinar recordings are only available to past participants. If you completed the action series, please email culture@bcpsqc.ca to ask for the password.

ATTIC Card Resource
Culture Change Toolkit Resource

Access Cohort 1 Resources Access Cohort 2 Resources Access Cohort 3 Resources Access Cohort 4 Resources

About the Action Series

  • Five interactive sessions teaching new skills and techniques for your team to employ in improving teamwork and communication
  • Sessions are followed by two-week action periods, during which teams translate theory into practice
  • Participating teams share their results from each action period with each other
  • Virtual support is available to teams during the action periods
  • There is strong evidence that effective teamwork is associated with better patient outcomes
  • The Joint Commission identified communication breakdown as the most common cause in 63% of adverse events
  • This webinar series will provide practical training for you and your team to improve its teamwork and communication
  • All teams will be awarded a certificate of completion, after fulfilling the requirements of the action series

Teams include between four and eight people, and must include two or more disciplines in order to participate, such as:

  • nursing staff
  • physicians
  • care aides
  • clerks
  • allied health staff
  • directors of care
  • team leaders
  • educators
  • therapists
  • pharmacists
  • senior leaders / sponsors
  • facility staff

Teams must attend all five webinars, and commit to practicing within and sharing across teams between action periods.

Teams working in administration health care-related roles can participate.

Nothing! This is a free opportunity for teams across BC and the Yukon.

By participating in the action series, you and your team members will learn to…

  • Recognize the importance of team culture and non-technical skills
  • Identify elements that contribute to successful communication
  • Use new and effective tools to enhance teamwork and communication within your team
  • Explore ways to effectively navigate conflict with others
  • Apply foundational leadership skills for culture change

Evaluation

Teamwork-and-Communication-Action-Series-Evaluation-Report-Cohorts-3_-4_FINAL-VERSION

Teamwork and Communication Action Series Evaluation Report: Cohorts 3 & 4

In response to ongoing requests from teams in British Columbia’s health care system, we launched the third and fourth cohorts of our Teamwork & Communication Action Series in March 2019 and October 2020, respectively. The program introduces teams to behaviours required for effective teamwork and communication along the continuum of care. Non-technical skills such as…
Download Teamwork and Communication Action Series Evaluation Report: Cohorts 3 & 4
Health-Quality-BC-Default-Document-Resource-Image

Teamwork & Communication Action Series: Wave 2 Evaluation

In the past, the health care system has often focused on the technical skills of providers. However, a growing body of evidence highlights the importance of non-technical skills in patient outcomes and improving safety behaviour in the workplace. Non-technical skills include such elements as leadership, decision-making, situation awareness, communication and teamwork – elements of the…
Download Teamwork & Communication Action Series: Wave 2 Evaluation
Health-Quality-BC-Default-Document-Resource-Image

Teamwork & Communication Action Series: Wave 1 Evaluation

Positive shifts in team culture are linked to improved clinical outcomes and patient satisfaction. Effective teamwork and communication in health care delivery can have an immediate and positive impact on patient safety and quality of care. These shifts also have tangible benefits for health care providers, teams and organizations by reducing work-related conflict and stress,…
Download Teamwork & Communication Action Series: Wave 1 Evaluation