Second Life and inter-professional teamwork in

maternity services

Sarah Stewart (Petal Stransky) 2010sarahstewart07@gmail.com

Vital that midwives, obstetricians & associated health professionals

collaborate effectively & professionally

www.flickr.com/photos/74821452@N00/208439427

...at times of handover, transfer

from primary to secondary/tertiary

care, & obstetric/neonatal

emergencieshttp://www.flickr.com/photos/8566600@N07/3098563488

Maternity staff work less effectively when:

poor relationships; poor communication; people do not feel

valued; lack of shared goals.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/26121794@N07/4324240167

Effects of working in a dysfunctional team are:

increased stress; increasingly poor communication; misunderstandings; unsupportive & unprofessional behaviour

http://www.flickr.com/photos/29487767@N02/3247821179

Women & families are left feeling they

have received sub-optimal care

http://www.flickr.com/photos/26667277@N00/329534159

Clinical mistakes are made which have dire effects on

maternal & neonatal outcomes

http://www.flickr.com/photos/84217240@N00/304117210

Health professionals may require support & education to

explore how they can work successfully together, develop

relationships & improve communication

http://www.flickr.com/photos/72511036@N00/205125227

Multi-user virtual worlds such as Second Life one way of

simulating clinical scenarios in which health professionals can come together & learn how to

work together in a team

Second Life and Public Health

Petal Stransky

Sarah Stewart

Authentic & immersive learning experiences

Safe place to explore clinical scenarios

Access to international community of medical &

health educators & researchers

Access to communities of health care consumers

Cape Able Island, haven for deaf, hard of hearing & people with disabilities: http://virtualability.org/our_projects.aspx

Te Wāhi Whānau: The Birth Place

Questions to think about

What issues do we face as staff in our local maternity services?

What professional development, education and support do we need?

How can Second Life facilitate that education etc?

What do we need to do to make it happen?

sarahstewart07@gmail.comSecond Life: Petal Stranskyhttp://sarah-stewart.blogspot.comTwitter: SarahStewartSkype: sarah.m.stewart

Presentation available:

http://www.slideshare.net/sarahs