Enhancing OR Team Dynamics

Effective teamwork and communication are foundational to safe surgical care - yet even well-functioning OR teams face identification challenges that can hinder collaboration. This case study explores how Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre used the OR Black Box® to evaluate communication barriers and measure the impact of an innovative labeled scrub cap initiative designed to strengthen team culture and improve information exchange. 

By downloading the case study, readers will discover: 

• The communication and identification challenges created by rotating trainees, sterile gowns, and large multidisciplinary teams 

• How the “Sunnybrook OR Cap Challenge” equipped 225 team members with labeled scrub caps to improve name and role visibility 

• What OR Black Box® video analysis revealed about name usage, teamwork performance, and communication behaviors 

• Early signs of cultural and operational impact, including improved comfort levels, enhanced cohesion, and measurable gains in teamwork scores 

Download the case study to learn how a simple, human-centered intervention - supported by objective OR Black Box® data - helped strengthen teamwork, communication, and staff experience.