Effective followership: A standardized algorithm to resolve clinical conflicts and improve teamwork.

J Health Risk Manag. 2015;35(1):21-30. doi: 10.1002/jhrm.21174. Sculli GL, Fore AM, Sine DM, Paull DE, Tschannen D, Aebersold M, Seagull FJ, Bagian JP. Abstract In healthcare, the sustained presence of hierarchy between team members has been cited as a common contributor to communication breakdowns. Hierarchy serves to accentuate either actual or perceived chains of command, which may result in team members failing to challenge decisions made by leaders, despite concerns about adverse patient outcomes. While other tools suggest improved communication, none focus specifically on communication skills for team followers, nor do they provide techniques to immediately challenge authority and escalate assertiveness at a given moment in real time. This article presents data that show one such strategy, called the Effective Followership Algorithm, offering statistically significant improvements in team communication across the professional continuum from students and residents to experienced clinicians. © 2015 American Society for Healthcare Risk Management of the American Hospital Association. PMID: 26227290 DOI: 10.1002/jhrm.21174