Second Life and inter-professional teamwork in
maternity services
Sarah Stewart (Petal Stransky) [email protected]
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?
[email protected] Life: Petal Stranskyhttp://sarah-stewart.blogspot.comTwitter: SarahStewartSkype: sarah.m.stewart
Presentation available:
http://www.slideshare.net/sarahs