This module will familiarise team members with the Safety Pause, which is designed to facilitate the sharing of critical information among teams to maximise patient safety following clinical handovers, with the goal of adopting it for use in everyday practice.
Click on the button below to download the Safety pause huddle module package, which contains detailed information including instructions on how to run the workshop session, facilitator notes, and outcomes template.
This module also uses the HSE Safety pause information sheet which should be downloaded for use during the session. Please click here to download the information sheet.
Please click the links below to download a modified version of this module which teams can use to conduct sessions via video conferencing rather than in-person.
Safety Pause Huddle remote session outline
Safety Pause Huddle remote outcomes template
When running this remote module, participants may need to be separated into sub-groups for discussions. Please view this brief video conferencing note for guidance on how to do this.
Note that your organisation may have policies on which video conferencing tools are permitted to be used.
The Safety Pause is a nationally recommended tool to ensure the highest standards of patient safety during the critical period of clinical handover. After becoming familiarised with the Safety Pause, teams will decide on what safety items they feel are important to include, how they will use the Safety Pause in everyday practice, and allocate individuals to be responsible for its implementation.
1-2 team members can facilitate discussions, and 1 team member can act as flipchart scribe to record ideas, discussion points, and outputs.
The session is structured as follows:
- Introduction (5 minutes)
- Icebreaker (5 minutes)
- Learning about the safety pause (10 minutes)
- Group exercise (10 minutes)
- Group feedback (25 minutes)
- Close of session (5 minutes)
The Safety Pause is a nationally-recommended tool to improve clinical handover that provides space for staff to highlight any current safety issues.1 This allows them to be proactive in addressing any safety challenges that might occur in everyday practice.
References
- National Clinical Effectiveness Committee, National Clinical Guideline No. 11: Clinical Handover in Acute and Children’s Hospital Services. 2015. Department of Health.