Bringing Light: Communication and Teamwork in Action
One of the keys to the success of Crew Resource Management (CRM) in commercial aviation was the promotion of communication and teamwork into an organization’s culture, not just a “one-off” concept that was introduced and forgotten, but a consistent part of what an organization does every day in practice and training.
Dr. Richard Ellenbogen, a University of Washington professor and chairman of the Department of Neurological Surgery, chief and attending of neurological surgery at Harborview Medical Center and attending neurosurgeon at Seattle Children’s (among many prestigious positions and titles) has been a long-time, consistent advocate for bringing the principles of CRM into the operating room and at all levels of healthcare.
A new film features just such a collaboration between a clinician and a researcher: Bringing Light, a short documentary – and a Sundance finalist – describes an amazing technological breakthrough that will allow brain surgeons to “paint” individual cancer cells. This will allow them to precisely excise tumor tissue without damaging surrounding good tissue. The potential of Tumor Paint is not limited to brain tumors; it has been found in preclinical studies to light up prostate, colon, breast and other cancers. It is anticipated that human trials in cancer patients will begin next year.
Dr. Richard Ellenbogen, a University of Washington professor and chairman of the Department of Neurological Surgery, chief and attending of neurological surgery at Harborview Medical Center and attending neurosurgeon at Seattle Children’s (among many prestigious positions and titles) has been a long-time, consistent advocate for bringing the principles of CRM into the operating room and at all levels of healthcare.
A new film features just such a collaboration between a clinician and a researcher: Bringing Light, a short documentary – and a Sundance finalist – describes an amazing technological breakthrough that will allow brain surgeons to “paint” individual cancer cells. This will allow them to precisely excise tumor tissue without damaging surrounding good tissue. The potential of Tumor Paint is not limited to brain tumors; it has been found in preclinical studies to light up prostate, colon, breast and other cancers. It is anticipated that human trials in cancer patients will begin next year.
Bringing Light | Bert Klasey, Chris Baron & James Allen Smith from Focus Forward Films on Vimeo.
The spirit and culture of communication and teamwork between Dr. Ellenbogen and brain cancer researcher, Dr. Jim Olson, among many others, has allowed this amazing technology to develop and will result in a much safer and survivable world for all of us. Not only does Dr. Ellenbogen talk the talk about CRM, but he “walks the walk” on a daily basis, recognizing and practicing the need for clear communication and collaboration. Dr. Ellenbogen even includes CRM training in his Neurological Surgery Grand Rounds schedule to emphasize the importance of CRM principles to his Neurological Surgery residents.
The next CRM lecture for the Neurological Surgery Grand Rounds residents is scheduled for February 6th, 2013 with Beyond the Checklist co-author Patrick Mendenhall.
The spirit and culture of communication and teamwork between Dr. Ellenbogen and brain cancer researcher, Dr. Jim Olson, among many others, has allowed this amazing technology to develop and will result in a much safer and survivable world for all of us. Not only does Dr. Ellenbogen talk the talk about CRM, but he “walks the walk” on a daily basis, recognizing and practicing the need for clear communication and collaboration. Dr. Ellenbogen even includes CRM training in his Neurological Surgery Grand Rounds schedule to emphasize the importance of CRM principles to his Neurological Surgery residents.
The next CRM lecture for the Neurological Surgery Grand Rounds residents is scheduled for February 6th, 2013 with Beyond the Checklist co-author Patrick Mendenhall.
