Team-Based Resuscitation in a Clinical Setting
When additional rescuers arrive, CPR transitions from a two-rescuer approach to a fully coordinated team-based resuscitation. This allows for greater efficiency, reduced rescuer fatigue, and improved patient outcomes.
Why Team-Based CPR Improves Outcomes
- Clear role assignments: Each rescuer focuses on a specific task, minimizing confusion.
- More efficient compressions and ventilations: Dedicated roles ensure better coordination and timing.
- Reduces rescuer fatigue: With more responders, rescuers can rotate tasks while maintaining high-quality CPR.
Key Roles in Team-Based Resuscitation
A well-functioning team operates like a pit crew, with each member assigned a critical role:
- Compressor: Performs high-quality chest compressions (switches every 2 minutes to prevent fatigue).
- Airway Manager: Maintains an open airway and delivers breaths via bag-mask or advanced airway.
- AED/Monitor Operator: Attaches defibrillator pads, analyzes rhythm, and delivers shocks if indicated.
- IV/Medication Provider: Establishes vascular access and administers emergency drugs (if within scope of practice).
- Team Leader: Oversees the resuscitation, assigns roles, and ensures closed-loop communication.
Transitioning from Two-Rescuer to Team-Based CPR
When additional rescuers arrive, they should integrate smoothly into the ongoing CPR effort:
- The arriving team members quickly identify their assigned roles.
- The first rescuer provides a brief patient status update to the team leader.
- New rescuers take over compressions and airway management to relieve fatigued rescuers.
- Rhythm analysis and defibrillation occur without delaying compressions.
Effective Team Coordination: The Pit Crew Model
High-performance teams follow the Pit Crew Model, where each person has a defined responsibility, and all actions are executed simultaneously, not sequentially.
Example of a Well-Coordinated Resuscitation Team
💡 Imagine a hospital-based code blue scenario:
- Compressor: Delivers continuous chest compressions, switching every 2 minutes.
- Airway Manager: Uses a bag-mask to ventilate the patient or prepares for advanced airway placement.
- AED/Monitor Operator: Attaches defibrillator pads, assesses heart rhythm, and delivers shocks when necessary.
- IV/Medication Provider: Establishes IV/IO access and administers epinephrine per protocol.
- Team Leader: Provides clear direction, ensures proper execution of interventions, and communicates with the broader medical team.
Common Pitfalls in Team-Based CPR (And How to Avoid Them)
- Unclear role assignments → Assign roles immediately upon arrival.
- Poor communication → Use closed-loop communication (covered in the next lesson).
- Fatigue affecting performance → Switch rescuers regularly to maintain quality.
When executed correctly, team-based resuscitation is highly effective and leads to better patient outcomes. Next, we’ll cover how to use closed-loop communication to enhance teamwork and reduce errors.