The Huddle: A Daily Dose of Communication

Abstract

Teamwork and communication are critical to ensure safe and quality care for students. A huddle offers the team a daily dedicated time to connect with each other. Huddles are short, regular debriefings designed to engage clinical staff in discussions about existing or emerging safety issues. The huddle was already systematically and uniformly part of the daily practice at Akron Children’s Hospital’s School Health Services daily schedule prior to COVID-19. The pandemic increased the need for the daily huddle. The fluid and frequently changing guidelines, personal protective equipment, and mitigation considerations has increased nursing anxiety and has made regular communication and daily debriefing even more important. Akron Children’s Hospital School Health Services has used huddle for over 10 years with excellent quality, team building, and nurse satisfaction outcomes.