The Importance Of Teamwork And Health Care

Teamwork and collaboration with other healthcare providers is very important. To function effectively there needs to be mutual respect, open communication, and shared decision making in the best interest of the patient. As a member of a team it is vital to know ones own strengths and limitations, this way patients receive the best care.

Health care has evolved and is continuously evolving. The management of care now involves different clinicians to better assess, diagnose and cure a patient. The clinicians evolved from a general practitioner to a team now comprised of Physician’s Assistant, Nurse, License Practical Nurse and Specialists. These health care professionals now compose a team of health care providers that are essential in a patient’s over all health care. The team-based approach is a delivery system that provides a patient an all-encompassing health care delivery system. “ By practicing in a team-based care model, physicians and other

Multidisciplinary rounds approach calls for various members of the medical profession to synchronize individual skills, knowledge, and expertise in order to provide quality care for patients (IHI, 2015). The team members consist of nurses, physicians, “ancillary clinicians, and staff” (IHI, 2015, p.4). Each member contributes to the care of the patient individually, but in a cohesive manner (IHI, 2015). The multidisciplinary rounds care model strongly encourages and utilizes parental involvement during rounds (IHI, 2015). Multidisciplinary rounds also solicit parents and family members to communicate with the care team care as well as care team communications concerning the patient to the family (IHI, p.4). For each patient, the rounds are conducted daily (IHI, 2015). For each patient, goals are set daily (IHI, 2015). This ensures daily communication among care team and with patient and the families of the patient (IHI, 2015). The idea is to establish good coordination of care; thus, making safe and efficient care more consistent (IHI, 2015). As the protocols or the guidelines are clearly communicated among care teams, risks are identified, and staff are educated, the quality of health care improves (IHI, 2015).

Health care organizations and the way care is delivered is rapidly changing. Being able to manage, promote, and, facilitate interprofessional team work is essential for health care organizations to be successful. Team synergy for successful interprofessional teams means there is cooperation, collaboration, and the coordination of patient-centered care (LeBlanc, 2014). Working together toward a common goal is a common theme for successful interprofessional teams (Hart, 2015).

The delivery of safe, affordable and quality healthcare to clients is an integral part in today`s health care. In order to provide the aforementioned care; inter-professional (IP) collaboration of the health care members is essential. The need for IP collaboration has been identified by the Institute of Medicine (IOM), the federal government, the Department of Health and Human Services. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) has identified the IP collaboration as an essential element of nursing education in the AACN Essential Series (Messer, n.d.). Evidence suggests that the collaboration among health professionals has been associated positively with patient outcomes in the operating room, the emergency

In most health care settings, different professionals practicing in different disciplines usually come together to help take care of patients. This is typically known as a team based approach. Researchers have found that integrating this approach is a key component to better treat patients, specifically undeserved populations and communities with limited access to health care (Pinto et al., 2012). Teamwork in health care is the

Growing evidence suggests that collaborative practice improves health care outcomes (Brown, Lindell, Dolansky, & Garber, 2015). Development of highly collaborative inter-professional teams is a key concern to the success of patient-centered holistic care. The relationship between nurses and physician can be the most crucial to the collaboration process. However throughout the whole health care team, building a relationship based off mutual respect and a patient-oriented mindset is essential. The support and dedication of the whole interdisciplinary team are really what makes the difference for patients’ health and well-being. It’s important that everybody is truly invested in the health of each patient, and makes that investment known. As a student nurse, I

This is the reason for nurses and physicians to work together as a team. The improvement of patient’s outcome while saving their lives and saving money is what we want as a healthcare provider. Teamwork and collaboration saves lives and increase revenues, both a win-win. The problem between

Patient care has come a long way. Gone are the days of a “one size fits all” patient care plan and doctors who call all the shots. Today’s patient care is complex and heavily includes the most important person, the patient. Not only does the patient have a say in his/her plan of care, but interdisciplinary teams of healthcare professionals weigh in on the direction of care through empowered communication. As this system of care develops, all members of the team expand their knowledge, experiences, and professional development.

In healthcare today, where patient outcomes are dependent on effective interprofessional education, interprofessional collaboration and interdisciplinary teamwork (Milstead 2015 p 261), there is the need for better preparation of health professionals in teamwork (“Team 4” concept). The purpose of interprofessional education (IPE) and interprofessional collaboration related to “Team 4” concept is to show that healthcare providers and health professionals are just as important to patient outcomes as the physician (Milstead 2015 p 264). According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the ideas and concepts of IPE, is health professionals from many disciplines working together as a team towards the end goal of a better health outcome for the patient are pivotal, and must be included in medical education for all health care providers and health professional (Milstead 2015 p 261-264).

An interdisciplinary collaboration and communication between all healthcare team members, patients, and family members are vital for the safety and quality care for the patient. According to Nickitas, Middaugh, and Aries, (2016) “...report showed that hospitals, physician, and patients each have a role to play, and each group must specific actions

In order to collaborate successfully with the other members of the team, they have to ‘work together’. Collaboration implies “working together to achieve something that neither agency could achieve alone” (cited by Biggs in Day, 2006, p9). It involves effective communication and contribution to a common goal – and the health and wellbeing of the patient and shared responsibility of the outcome. Each team requires a quality leader, regular meetings attended by all members, joint assessment, regular reviews of patient records which should include ‘shared care plans’; joint decisions following consultation and task delegation to individual team members with the outcome being that “care must be structured, organised and systematically provided to each person in a variety of ways” (Creating an Interprofessional Workforce, 2007, p10).

Supportive organizations and exceptional individual contributions set the stage for effective teamwork. Healthcare teams require a clear purpose that integrates specific analytical groups and multiple facets of patient care. “Healthcare teams which have a clear purpose that is consistent with the organizations’ mission, can be more clearly integrated, resourced and supported. Healthcare teams generate commitment through a shared goal of comprehensive patient care and a common belief that the team is the best way to deliver coordinated care” (Proctor-Childs, 1998, pp

This misunderstanding limits communication between the team members and the implementation of the treatment plan. These effects eventually lead to a decrease in the satisfaction of the patient and the overall health outcomes. This can be overcome by an early intervention in the education process of undergraduate students aiming to increase their understanding of interprofessional teamwork, which should positively reflect on their future practice as a healthcare provider and enhance the collaborative teamwork for optimal patient-centered health

Literature suggests that stronger collaborative relationships across healthcare disciplines is associated with improved patient safety, quality of care, and outcomes. For example, Tomblin Murphy et al found that when collaborative models of care initiatives were supported staff used evidence to develop care plans. Additionally, patients and their families were more involved when collaborative teams were in place (Chan A.K., Wood V., 2010; Tomblin, M. G., MacKenzie, A., Alder, R., & Cruickshank, C. 2013; Bethea, D. P., Holland, C. A., & Reddick, B. K. 2014). Often times, however, practitioner groups are reluctant to work closely with others from different professions for a variety of reasons, but mainly because they are not familiar with others scopes of practice and/or methods of care delivery (Vedam et al, 2014). Not all practitioners are ready to trust each other in a team setting and knowing who is and who is not to trust, may have an impact on successful collaboration for individuals over time. Additionally, interprofessional communication is a critical pillar for successful team delivered care. Interprofessional teams need participants who are not only excellent communicators but excellent listeners as well. Skilful and disciplined communication among and between individual practitioners is needed to carry out team-based goals and objectives.