Perioperative briefing and debriefing
In 2019, perioperative briefing and debriefing were integrated in the
eight surgical teams above after stepped wedge implementation in
2014.16 Both briefing and debriefing have now become a
standard element of the surgical care process and are carried out
alongside the time-out and sign-out procedures. Perioperativebriefing is a surgical team activity that takes place before the
first patient arrives in the OR. The aim is to share essential
information for that day, stimulate mutual support for specific day
tasks and to resolve expected technical or logistical problems
immediately. Perioperative debriefing is also a surgical team
activity, but takes place at the end of the surgical programme. During
postoperative debriefing, the team evaluates both the positives as well
as the problematic issues of the day. Postoperative debriefing is aimed
at identifying the lessons learnt shortly after surgery for improving
team performance and the operative processes. All surgical team members
are expected to participate in both briefing and debriefing. To
structure and standardise perioperative briefing and debriefing, a
‘briefing card’ is used (Appendix 1). The OR assistant mostly guides
these processes.16