TeamSTEPPS®: Strategies and Tools to Enhance Performance and Patient Safety

TeamSTEPPS® is an evidence-based teamwork system aimed at optimizing patient care by improving communication and teamwork skills among health care professionals, including frontline staff. It includes a comprehensive set of ready-to-use materials and a training curriculum to successfully integrate teamwork principles into a variety of settings.

Several versions of TeamSTEPPS are available, along with individual modules related to specific audiences,

settings, or situations. All are available online, and publication numbers are provided for alternative formats

available from AHRQ’s Publications Clearinghouse.

TeamSTEPPS 2.0

TeamSTEPPS 2.0 is the core curriculum. It helps you train your staff in teamwork skills and lead a medical teamwork improvement initiative in your organization from initial concept development through to sustainment of positive changes. Materials include an instructor manual (Pub. No. 14-0001-2), short case studies, and videos illustrating teamwork opportunities and successes. Instructor and Trainer workshop materials focus on change management, coaching, and implementation. Supporting materials include a pocket guide (Pub. No. 14-0001-2) and evaluation tools. The entire course is available on DVD (Pub. No. 14-0001-3-DVD).

Training Videos

Rapid Response Systems Guide

This module provides insight into the core concepts of teamwork as they are applied to the rapid response system. Comprehensive curricula and instructional guides include short case studies and videos illustrating teamwork opportunities and successes. (Pub. No. 08(09)-0074-CD)

Training Videos

Using Simulation in TeamSTEPPS Training

This guide provides instruction on using simulation-based training when teaching TeamSTEPPS®. The use of simulation has proven to be a powerful strategy in team-based health care. It affords excellent opportunities to enhance the quality of continuing education for health care professionals, as well as provide education and practice for students learning to become health care professionals.

Enhancing Safety for Patients With Limited English Proficiency Module

This module provides insight into the core concepts of teamwork as they are applied to your work with patients who are not proficient in English. Comprehensive curricula and instructional guides include short case studies and videos illustrating teamwork opportunities and successes that include interpreters. (Pub. No. 12(13)-0068-DVD)

Training Videos

Dental Module

This module consists of videos showing how dental staff who perform oral surgery and general dentistry can use TeamSTEPPS teamwork, leadership, mutual support, communication, and situation monitoring skills in their practices. (Pub. No. 08(09)-0088-CD)

TeamSTEPPS® Long-Term Care Version

TeamSTEPPS® Long-Term Care Version adapts the core concepts of the TeamSTEPPS program to reflect the environment of nursing homes and other long-term care settings such as assisted living and continuing care retirement communities. The examples, discussions, and exercises are tailored to the long-term care environment. (Pub. No. 12(13)-0004-1-DVD)

Primary Care Version

TeamSTEPPS® Primary Care Version offers techniques, tools, and strategies to assist health care professionals in developing and optimizing team knowledge and performance in a primary care setting. The course is intended for practice facilitators—individuals who play a key role in leading and assisting practices with their quality improvement and practice transformation efforts. (Final Version Available Spring/Summer 2015)

Training Videos

Page last reviewed September 2015

Internet Citation: TeamSTEPPS®: Strategies and Tools to Enhance Performance and Patient Safety. September 2015. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD. http://www.ahrq.gov/professionals/education/curriculum-tools/teamstepps/index.html