TRIAGE IN MASS CASUALTIES: THE ROLE OF TEAMWORK Ir.Christodoulou 1, Z. Koukouritaki 1, Ch.Pogonidis 2 E.Xenodoxidou 2, I. Karoutsou 2, M.Handolias 1, E.Papamichael 1,G.Christianopoulos 1 1. 2nd Surgical Department, Papanikolaou Hospital, Thessaloniki 2. Sismanoglion Hospital, Komotini,Thrace ΑΙΜS AND OBJECTIVES: Team work is essential in cases of emergencies, cancer, geriatrics and systemic diseases. Our study writes down problems of team work among health professionals in Greek Hospitals and General Doctors in peripheral Health Centers, in mass casualties. MATERIALS-METHODS:We used questionnaires and interviewed health professionals of General Medicine and subspecialties. We focused on problematic areas of team work, such as patients who belong in high risk groups and car accidents. We asked Hospital doctors and general doctors from Peripheral Health Centres to concentrate on problems caused when teamwork is needed. In total, 195 health professionals were asked. RESULTS: Team work is thought to be problematic or adequately held, causing limited team effectiveness according to the 54%. The coordinator of the medical team is not the family doctor and it is difficult for one doctor to have the approval of the team according to the 84% of asked physicians. In case of a sudden death or severe complication the team members often do not have a common strategy (43%) and often have limited knowledge about medical legislation (62%), while only 11% feel secure and safe opposite medical law. The establishment of teamwork seminars and active psycho modulating exercises are approved by all asked physicians and nurses. CONCLUSIONS-DISCUSSION: Problems in teamwork are usual in cases that need coordination between different Health Centres. Stress of health professionals could be eliminated by seminars teaching behaviour of working in a team and practicing based in simulation models, especially for emergencies.