RCS launches best practice guides in leadership and teamwork
06 Nov 2014
RCS outlines best practice in surgical leadership and teamwork with the launch of two new guides
The Royal College of Surgeons of England today launched two guides setting good practice in surgical leadership and team work, as part of the college’s work to improve outcomes for surgical patients.
Surgical Leadership – A Guide to Best Practice and The High-Performing Surgical Team – A Guide to Best Practice are practical guides for implementing the principles of the RCS Good Surgical Practice launched this year.
Surgical Leadership – A Guide to Best Practice establishes the reasons why it is important for surgeons to be effective leaders in order to deliver the best care for patients, outlining the attributes and behaviours expected of a surgical leader. This guide includes direction on:
- Leadership as an essential element of effective team-working
- Leadership styles
- Attributes of good leadership
- Leadership talks and behaviours
- Leadership skills
- Disruptive leadership , causes and impact
- Assessment of Good Leadership
The High-Performing Surgical Team – A Guide to Best Practice highlights technical and non-technical processes that contribute towards the success of a team, such as reflection and learning through morbidity and mortality meetings, the WHO Surgical Safety Checklist, and communication skills. This document provides guidance on:
- The importance of effective team working
- Critical attributes of surgical teams
- The WHO surgical checklist
- How to recognise a well-functioning surgical team
- Dysfunctional team working – causes and symptoms
Miss Clare Marx, President, the Royal College of Surgeons said:
“Team work and leadership are pivotal to surgical professionalism and to delivering excellent patient care.
These guides provide practical steps for every surgeon to reflect on and implement in their everyday work.
As surgeons, we must take responsibility for ensuring our patients receive the best care possible. Part of that is working effectively with our colleagues and patients to continuously improve patient outcomes.”