Qualitative investigation of military surgical resuscitation teams: what are the drivers of success of a rapid response team?
Objectives This qualitative study explores the characteristics of a specialised military medical rapid response team (MRRT), the surgical resuscitation team (SRT). Despite mixed evidence of efficacy, civilian MRRTs are widely employed, with significant variation in structure and function. Recent inc...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMJ Publishing Group
2024-03-01
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| Series: | BMJ Open |
| Online Access: | https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/14/3/e076000.full |
| _version_ | 1797228964701274112 |
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| author | Sayra Cristancho Lara Varpio Matthew J Eckert Michael Soh |
| author_facet | Sayra Cristancho Lara Varpio Matthew J Eckert Michael Soh |
| author_sort | Sayra Cristancho |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Objectives This qualitative study explores the characteristics of a specialised military medical rapid response team (MRRT), the surgical resuscitation team (SRT). Despite mixed evidence of efficacy, civilian MRRTs are widely employed, with significant variation in structure and function. Recent increased use of these teams to mitigate patient risk in challenging healthcare scenarios, such as global pandemics, mass casualty events and resource-constrained health systems, mandates a reconceptualisation of how civilian MRRTs are created, trained and used. Here, we study the core functions and foundational underpinnings of SRTs and discuss how civilian MRRTs might learn from their military counterparts.Design Semistructured interview-based study using Descriptive Qualitative Research methodology and Thematic Analysis.Setting Remote audio interviews conducted via Zoom.Participants Participants included 15 members of the United States Special Operations Command SRTs, representing all medical specialties of the SRT as well as operational planners.Results Adaptability was identified as a core function of SRTs and informed by four foundational underpinnings: mission variability, shared values and principles, interpersonal and organisational trust and highly effective teaming. Our findings provide three important insights for civilian MRRTs: (1) team member roles should not be defined by silos of professional specialisation, (2) trust is a key factor in the teaming process and (3) team principles and values result in and are reinforced by organisational trust.Conclusion This study offers the first in-depth investigation of a unique military MRRT. Important insights that may offer benefit to civilian MRRT practices include enabling the breakdown of traditional division of labour, allowing for and promoting deep interpersonal and professional familiarity, and facilitating a cycle of positive reinforcement between teams and organisations. Future investigation of small team limitations, comparability to civilian MRRTs, and the team relationship to the larger organisation are needed to better understand how these teams function in a healthcare system and translate to civilian practice. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T15:05:04Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5d94efa4e8b345a49be2031051b06a50 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2044-6055 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T15:05:04Z |
| publishDate | 2024-03-01 |
| publisher | BMJ Publishing Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMJ Open |
| spelling | doaj.art-5d94efa4e8b345a49be2031051b06a502024-04-02T13:35:09ZengBMJ Publishing GroupBMJ Open2044-60552024-03-0114310.1136/bmjopen-2023-076000Qualitative investigation of military surgical resuscitation teams: what are the drivers of success of a rapid response team?Sayra Cristancho0Lara Varpio1Matthew J Eckert2Michael Soh3Department of Surgery, Faculty of Education and Centre for Education Research & Innovation, Western University, London, Ontario, CanadaDepartment of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine at the University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USASurgery, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USAHealth Professions Education, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland, USAObjectives This qualitative study explores the characteristics of a specialised military medical rapid response team (MRRT), the surgical resuscitation team (SRT). Despite mixed evidence of efficacy, civilian MRRTs are widely employed, with significant variation in structure and function. Recent increased use of these teams to mitigate patient risk in challenging healthcare scenarios, such as global pandemics, mass casualty events and resource-constrained health systems, mandates a reconceptualisation of how civilian MRRTs are created, trained and used. Here, we study the core functions and foundational underpinnings of SRTs and discuss how civilian MRRTs might learn from their military counterparts.Design Semistructured interview-based study using Descriptive Qualitative Research methodology and Thematic Analysis.Setting Remote audio interviews conducted via Zoom.Participants Participants included 15 members of the United States Special Operations Command SRTs, representing all medical specialties of the SRT as well as operational planners.Results Adaptability was identified as a core function of SRTs and informed by four foundational underpinnings: mission variability, shared values and principles, interpersonal and organisational trust and highly effective teaming. Our findings provide three important insights for civilian MRRTs: (1) team member roles should not be defined by silos of professional specialisation, (2) trust is a key factor in the teaming process and (3) team principles and values result in and are reinforced by organisational trust.Conclusion This study offers the first in-depth investigation of a unique military MRRT. Important insights that may offer benefit to civilian MRRT practices include enabling the breakdown of traditional division of labour, allowing for and promoting deep interpersonal and professional familiarity, and facilitating a cycle of positive reinforcement between teams and organisations. Future investigation of small team limitations, comparability to civilian MRRTs, and the team relationship to the larger organisation are needed to better understand how these teams function in a healthcare system and translate to civilian practice.https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/14/3/e076000.full |
| spellingShingle | Sayra Cristancho Lara Varpio Matthew J Eckert Michael Soh Qualitative investigation of military surgical resuscitation teams: what are the drivers of success of a rapid response team? BMJ Open |
| title | Qualitative investigation of military surgical resuscitation teams: what are the drivers of success of a rapid response team? |
| title_full | Qualitative investigation of military surgical resuscitation teams: what are the drivers of success of a rapid response team? |
| title_fullStr | Qualitative investigation of military surgical resuscitation teams: what are the drivers of success of a rapid response team? |
| title_full_unstemmed | Qualitative investigation of military surgical resuscitation teams: what are the drivers of success of a rapid response team? |
| title_short | Qualitative investigation of military surgical resuscitation teams: what are the drivers of success of a rapid response team? |
| title_sort | qualitative investigation of military surgical resuscitation teams what are the drivers of success of a rapid response team |
| url | https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/14/3/e076000.full |
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