Teamwork and Expertise Can Be Powerful Medicines

Patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) face a high risk for secondary brain injury from potentially reversible complications that affect many different organ systems. Other similarly complex disease states appear to benefit from closely coordinated, specialized care. Therefore, investigators at a children's hospital hypothesized that outcomes of pediatric TBI could be improved through a program to facilitate cross-disciplinary communication and consistent implementation of best practices in monitoring and treatment.

In 2005, these investigators initiated a pediatric neurocritical care program (PNCP) that coordinated efforts among providers in critical care, neurosurgery, surgery, anesthesia, and radiology. Providers received specific tra…