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