Team-based Care Debrief Guide

Debriefs are a core component of team-based care and a cornerstone of high performing health care teams. They provide an opportunity for team members to reflect on performance, reinforce effective teamwork and identify opportunities for improvement after clinical events, procedures or shifts. 

Regularly engaging in debrief conversations, whether after challenges or successes, helps normalize open reflection, foster continuous learning and build stronger, more connected teams through shared understanding and trust. Even short, focused debriefs can have a powerful impact when they occur consistently and promptly after an event.  

An effective debrief fosters: 

• Stronger collaboration and communication among team members
• Shared learning that reinforces team purpose
• Psychological safety and trust within the team
• Continuous improvement in patient care quality and safety

This guide is meant to help facilitate a deeper debrief discussion with your team. Feedback provided during a debrief should be respectful, specific and considerate of other team members’ experiences, focusing on behavioural improvements.  

When having debrief conversations, it is important to document the conversation to continue to update protocols, care processes and reinforce change. This guide can be used in full or in part by the entire team or by individual members. It may also be used to discuss how new processes and changes are going in the clinic. 

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