March 2026 Intro

Brett Murray, MD and Anne Steckowych, APRN

on Spotify

The summary below is from an episode of ERcast: Clinical Perspectives

Emergency department teamwork is a patient-safety intervention, not just a culture issue. Psychological safety, direct communication, and a shared mission around safe throughput are the practical foundations that make ED teams function under pressure.

Emergency Department Teamwork

Psychological safety habits: Flattened hierarchy, including first-name culture and explicit invitations to question plans, makes it easier for nurses, techs, and physicians to speak up before small problems become patient-care misses.
Approachability under pressure: Approachability is an operational skill in the ED; small behaviors like eye contact, acknowledging workload, and answering respectfully reduce friction during high-stress shifts.
Closed loop communication: Dismissive responses breed alienation, while brief responsive check-backs build trust and keep teams aligned on priorities. We get into the bedside feel of that communication in the episode.
Early task alignment: Naming the sickest patient, the waiting room pressure, and the next priority early helps teams coordinate around shared goals instead of reacting to parallel assumptions.
Conflict reframed as systems stress: Much ED conflict reflects crowding, interruptions, and competing demands more than personal failure, so direct respectful communication can quickly reset the team around patient-centered care.
Relationships beyond the role: Knowing coworkers as people, not just job titles, humanizes tense interactions and makes collaboration smoother when the department is stretched thin.

Subscribe to ERcast: Clinical Perspectives to listen to the episode.

References:

Milton, J., Erichsen Andersson, A., Åberg, N.D. et al. Healthcare professionals’ perceptions of interprofessional teamwork in the emergency department: a critical incident study. Scand J Trauma Resusc Emerg Med 30, 46 (2022). PMID: 35841051
Lyubovnikova, J., West, M. A., Dawson, J. F., & Carter, M. R. (2015). 24-Karat or fool’s gold? Consequences of real team and co-acting group membership in healthcare organizations. European Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology, 24(6), 929–950. [Link]
Phillips J, Jones D. The Value of Communication in the ED. EM Resident. Published November 1, 2024. Accessed January 30, 2026. https://www.emra.org/emresident/article/ed-team-communication

Faculty

Brett Murray, MD
Dr. Murray is an Emergency Medicine physician practicing at a busy community trauma center. After attending Boston University School of Medicine, he completed his residency training at Brown University / Rhode Island Hospital, where he also served as Chief Resident from 2020 – 2021. His clinical interests center on medical education, performance science, and Emergency Medical Services.
Anne Steckowych, APRN
Emergency medicine is in Anne’s blood; her father has been an Emergency Medicine physician for the last 30 years. After earning her nursing degree from the University of New Hampshire (UNH) in 2018, Anne worked as an EMT at her local fire department, gaining practical experience that prepared her for five years as a nurse in the emergency department. She eventually returned to UNH to become an NP and has spent the last 8 years in the same ED, building relationships with a clinical team dedicated to providing the best possible patient care. Outside of the hospital, she’s usually skiing, hiking, or running in the New Hampshire hills. ERcast is her first podcast, and she’s thrilled to be part of the Hippo team.