Enhancing Communication and Teamwork in Vascular Surgery: Evaluating the Impact of a Structured Morning Report

<h2>Abstract</h2><h3>Objective</h3> Effective communication and teamwork are critical components of high-quality surgical care. Morning reports, traditionally used in internal medicine and general surgery, have not been widely adopted or studied in vascular surgery. This study evaluates the impact of a structured, virtual morning report on communication, teamwork, and perceptions of patient safety within a vascular surgery service. <h3>Methods</h3> In 2021, a daily 30-minute virtual morning report was implemented at a single academic institution. All vascular surgery trainees and faculty participated. A custom post-implementation survey and Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) Resident and Faculty Survey data from before (2019–2021) and after (2022–2024) implementation were analyzed. Primary outcomes included perceived improvements in communication, teamwork, and patient safety. <h3>Results</h3> Survey response rates were 100% for trainees (n=14) and 60% for faculty (n=6). Most participants (70%) attended daily, and 80% rated the structure as "very good" or "exceptional." Key benefits included improved communication (95%), increased efficiency (93%), and reduced workload (64%). ACGME faculty survey data showed significant improvements in perceptions of communication, teamwork, and patient safety culture. <h3>Conclusions</h3> A structured morning report significantly enhanced communication, teamwork, and perceptions of patient safety in a vascular surgery training program. This low-resource intervention may be broadly applicable across surgical disciplines and represents a scalable model for improving educational and clinical outcomes.