Hot debriefs: what emergency department staff need to know

A five-minute team debrief after a difficult case can drive clinical improvements and help protect staff well-being – so why are they not more routinely used?

• Hot debriefs take place immediately after a difficult case; they help protect staff well-being and highlight areas of care that need to be improved
• Although implementation can be difficult, hot debriefs are appreciated by staff and there are a number of tools available that can help
• Details on how to carry out a STOP5 hot debrief and a short case report where a hot debrief led to clinical improvements

Emergency department (ED) teams are often expected to move on quickly to other patients after serious and distressing