Green Cross method in a postanaesthesia care unit: a qualitative study of the healthcare professionals' experiences after 3 years, including the COVID-19 pandemic period.
Birkeli GH, Ballangrud R, Jacobsen HK, et al. Green Cross method in a postanaesthesia care unit: a qualitative study of the healthcare professionals’ experiences after 3 years, including the COVID-19 pandemic period. BMJ Open Qual. 2023;12(2):e002247. doi:10.1136/bmjoq-2022-002247.
Interprofessional huddles and voluntary reporting of incidents and near-misses are ways to improve patient safety and safety culture. This Norwegian post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) implemented a voluntary incident reporting method, Green Cross (GC), that includes daily team huddles to discuss reports from the previous 24 hours. Three years after implementation, staff reported GC was still active, but use has declined, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. They also reported a desire for increased follow up and physician involvement.