Our cases can take unexpected twists or turns and result in poor outcomes or death of a patient. In addition, we are all subject to making mistakes in the course of our work. If we're lucky, the mistake has no consequence. However, mistakes can also result in a "near miss" (in which the patient survives / all is well) or even patient death. These events can be deeply distressing and the effects can have long-lasting consequences on the individuals who were party to the event.

Adverse events are opportunities for growth and even "near misses" are a gift. These incidents offer us an opportunity for self-examination to identify how we can improve and prevent similar situations in the future. Debriefing provides us the time and space to analyze our thoughts, actions, strengths and opportunities for improvement after an adverse event. Effective debriefing is a tool that promotes and supports improved patient safety and care.

Debriefing has been well described in the world of human medicine and the types and models used by physicians are easily adaptable to veterinary medicine. In this presentation we will describe what debriefing is, why teams should incorporate debriefing in practice, components and guidelines of debriefing, and how to set yourself up to conduct effective debriefings in veterinary practice.

This presentation is also delivered as part of the 2-hour live and interactive workshops for veterinary professionals.

Running time: 41 mins

Earn 0.5 hrs of RACE and NY State-approved CE credit.