We need to TALK ....

Dr Rebecca Broomfield

http://www.talkdebrief.org/

What is it?

Why?

TALK has been developed to give a framework to debriefing. The aim of the entire project is to promote a supportive culture of learning and patient safety in clinical settings. Reflection is a vital part of healthcare and the tool promotes guided reflection enabling teams to work together in order to improve and maintain patient safety, create a supportive workplace culture and increase efficiency. 

The project has some important values which also function to promote a positive workplace and enhance staff well being. 

Reflection is encouraged to be constructive, non judgemental, and can be initiated by any member of the team. 

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It would be worth having a discussion within your workplace about debriefing. Do you debrief as a whole team? Is TALK a tool which could enhance the way your team work together? When getting started and initial discussion should take place in order to identify and agree potential situations which will prompt its use, focusing on positive events as well as negative. Once established then TALK can easily be adapted to different situations so don't let this initial discussion limit you!

Training course

I attended a workshop in order to facilitate using the TALK debriefing tool. I personally think that this tool is useful and needs to become embedded in the culture as much as the 'ABCD' algorithm for assessing a patient. It is initially a bit clunky to use, because it is unfamiliar but once practiced would easily facilitate difficult discussions. It could be argued that we already debrief and therefore why do we need a tool?

There are several advantages which I can see:

• Progresses the conversation from just talking into key learning points and actions which can then be achieved. 
• Removes hierarchy allowing all members of the team to initiate discussion.
• Promotes a culture for debriefing after positive events as well as negative. 
• Focus on solutions rather than problems, therefore promoting a positive working environment. 
• Can be used to focus in on specific quick fire problems or best practice rather than discussion of the whole case. 

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For more information

Follow @TALKdebriefing on twitter for up to date news
Visit www.talkdebrief.org