Morning Brief

The team brief is one of the most important aspects of a safe transfer.

• The team allocate specific roles for the day or mission. It is important to establish the experience of your team and what they are comfortable doing.
• It makes the team safer if this brief is formalised and done every day even if you know each other quite well. There are always changes; maybe an observer joins you or some roles have changed.

Note how the brief is conducted in a quiet place without any distractions

• In some situations, for example when transfers are not performed by dedicated services, you may not meet your team until immediately before the transfer. It is still – perhaps, even more – important to do a brief in this case.
• Some services use the brief to discuss the mental capacity and emotional state of the team members, especially in aviation-based services where flight safety adds another layer of complexity.
• The brief is also an opportunity for a handover of patients from the previous shift, whom you may be monitoring or following-up.

Paediatric Perspectives

For another example, and a perspective from a paediatric transfer team, take a look at this video from the Children’s Acute Transport Service (CATS).

Who may be present for handover?

• Outgoing and incoming consultant: ensures clinical oversight and leadership of the transport team’s overall operation.
• Team members from prior shift and starting shift: direct patient care will be undertaken by these team members and it is essential that clinical information is handed over in a standardised format from one shift to the next.
• Administrator: this person is often helpful in sorting out equipment, communication and office issues and is a crucial support for the team as a whole.

What topics may be covered?

1. Clinical cases
2. Review of completed cases since last handover
3. Any safety, audit, or quality improvement concerns
4. Equipment and vehicle status
5. Weather or traffic concerns
6. Staffing review for safe staffing for next 24 hours/2-3 shifts
7. Network review with number/location of available beds for transfers

Please note: this video is a simulation and does not depict a real-life clinical event. The clinical details used in the simulation are invented and do not describe real patients. Everyone featured has kindly given their permission for the video to be used.