TEAMWORK

HLTH 3400 Spring 2016-2017 Professor Parker

B Y : H A N N A H F R A Z E R , R A I N E Y M O S L E Y,
N I C K H E A B E R L I N , C A N D I C E E RV I N
WHAT IS TEAMWORK?

Teamwork, specifically in healthcare, is defined as two or more people

cooperating interdependently with a mutual purpose toward
complimentary goals that incorporates open and honest discussions and
problem solving.
Interdependency represents the dependency each individual team-member has
on one anothers ability to accomplish their individual tasks, leading to a group
collaboration.
TEAMWORK IN HEALTHCARE
In health care, there are many types of teams from various departments:
Physician teams
Nursing teams
Management teams
Quality improvement teams
Etc.
In health care organizations, teams are used, in general, to meet patient needs for safe,
efficient, and timely care. More specially, their team goals apply to the department in which they
work.
For example, a management team for the Vice President may include a board of directors,
used to aid the VP in decision-making, and to report various organization-wide
performance statistics.
TEAMWORK IN HEALTHCARE
Teams may be missioned for:
Short-term issues such as quality problems
Long-term issues such as preventing harm to all patients in healthcare

CFTs, cross-functional teams, are common in healthcare and formed to address organizational
needs such as:
Facility service excellence
Environmental sustainability
Eco-friendly projects
Clinical services marketing
Implementation improvements
TEAMWORK IN HEALTHCARE

Task forces require teamwork

May be short-term or long-term, but will disperse once a conclusion is created, a goal is
met, or a report is formulated.
The group members may be from differing departments, to increase the chances for a
quicker and more efficient outcome.
For example, a health information technology quality improvement task force may
require employees from the IT department, physicians, nursing divisions, and human
resources section. This will provide the task force with different perspectives to the
technology usage in the organization and how and what needs improvement.
THE IMPORTANCE OF TEAMWORK
Teamwork helps to accomplish the following:
Everyone seeks the same goal= all members are interested in seeking what is best for the
patient and their organization
It promotes healthy and efficient communication= the more understanding each
participant has for each other, the more quickly the team will reach their goals
Prevents medical errors= in teamwork, cross-checks are accomplished, which is double
checking patient information to ensure they are given the correct medications and
procedures. Team members form an unspoken accountability system between them, which
helps each to perform their work thoroughly, with less errors
THE IMPORTANCE OF TEAMWORK

Creates a better work environment= if individuals feel they are a valued team-member,
then their attitude and actions are more positive. This leads to their inspiration on the
patients for equally positive attitudes and actions.
Reduces stress= medical professionals are subject to high-stress jobs in addition to
insufficient staffing. Also, there is a constant flow of newly-hired employees that must be
trained and adjust to the culture of the organization.This creates stress! Teamwork may
soften the amount of stress placed on one individual, by spreading the nerve-racking tasks
among a group. Additionally, teamwork reduces turnover rates
TEAMWORK VIDEO

(2013). Collaborating Across Disciplines [Online video].Youtube. Retrieved from

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-yhdtjVNnWg
CHALLENGES IN TEAMWORK
Poor communication= Some team members are too shy, overbearing or they simply nod
in agreement just to keep the peace and avoid controversy. This may make achieving the
teams goals more difficult, which will eventually negatively impact the patients.
Ineffective leadership= If designated leaders are indecisive, try to do it all themselves,
obtain no vision or mission, or posses little faith in the team members abilities to help
out, then reaching the goal is very challenging.
Lack of participation= Some do not show up to meetings or put forth equivalent effort as
other members, yet everyone receives the same representation as a team. This may make
those who did work hard frustrated and cause them to opt out of future team
opportunities or contribute less to them.
Inability to resolve conflict= If two disagree, then the argument and desire to be right
keeps them from continuing the team project and accomplish goals.
PEER REVIEWED JOURNAL #1
Strategic Teamwork in Health Care:The Essential Role of Physicians

According to a study on inclusion and exclusion of physicians in strategic teamwork for

healthcare facilities.
Incusion of physicans in teamwork is good because:
They ineract with patients throughout their entire expeirence with the company
They have the greatest direct-care effect on patient outcomes
They have relationsips with other physicians, thus hearing the needs and wants
physicians have as a whole
They are acustomed to working in medically-focused teams when they operate etc.
They use complex technology and adhear to strict protocols
PEER REVIEWED JOURNAL #1
On the other side, exclusion of physicians in healthcare teams is often due to.
The gap between management roles and medical roles/ otherwise known as indirect
care and direct care
Once the 1950s came and established government funding for healthcare
organizations that met requirements, then the management side to healthcare
became more important. However, as the rise of managerial needs came about, there
still was not much consideration for the physicians role in meeting the government
requirements.
This divide between administration and medical practitioners has created a health
industry that rarely allows for both sides to come together for strategic teamwork
and decision making.
Healthcare organizations struggle to overcome the division established in the history
of indirect versus direct care employees.
PEER REVIEWED JOURNAL #1

The following are ways that including physicians in strategic teamwork may benefit the
organization
The promotion of collaboration, transparency, and communication
Leverages effective physician leadership= In their respective fields, physicians have
leadership roles which deserves enough respect to include them in teams that are
dedicated to facility-wide decisions
It reduces the stress of assumptions= If there are no physicians on the team, then
members have no option but to assume what is needed in reference to matters affecting
physicians. If there are physicians on the team, then if the team is dealing with a physician-
related issue, then they can have a primary source to share their thoughts and opinions.
This will increase the positive outcome from the teams decisions
MULTIDISCIPLINARY APPROACH

This is necessary in treating patients with multiple chronic diseases, such as diabetes, cancer,
and heart disease.
One patient may require several different specialists, thus, the employees of different
departments must work together, as a team, to provide the best possible care for the
patient.
This approach establishes the dire need for teamwork in healthcare. There are so many
differing departments under one healthcare organization, and more often than not, a few
people from each division are needed to work on one project.
PEER REVIEWED JOURNAL #2
Positive relationships between patients and healthcare providers, as well as those among
providers, promote patient-centered care and enhance patient outcomes,
(McComb et al., 2013; Dwamena et al., 2012; Laine & Davidoff, 1996).

The functionality of the BIG 5 Dimensions of Teamwork

Aims towards optimal patient outcomes
Addresses patient challenges within healthcare systems
High quality patient care through effective teamwork
PEER REVIEWED JOURNAL #2
1. Team Leadership
Partakes in an organized and guided team progress involving
Problem solving
Monitoring internal and external environments
Establishing performance expectations
Ensuring team goals align with patient preferences

2. Mutual Performance Monitoring

check
Less room for error
Promotes awareness of team functionality
Ensures patient wellbeing
PEER REVIEWED JOURNAL #2
3. Backup Behavior
Avoids task overload
Promotes patient safety
Team members assist one another by
Workload distribution
Feedback
Coaching
Assisting

4. Adaptability
Recognizing off course deviations and making adjustments
Requires a global understanding of tasks and changes of internal/external environments
Constant and complex change occurs frequently in healthcare settings, such as
Federal regulations
Standards of practice
Reimbursement requirements
Patient preference
PEER REVIEWED JOURNAL #2

5. Team Orientation
Attitudinal component
Coordination required between all groups to ensure patient wellbeing
Physician, nurse, patient, support workers,, etc.
Accomplishing tasks through various means
Coordination
Evaluation
Input
PEER REVIEWED JOURNAL #3
Training Teamwork in Medicine
Teamwork training is a method of reducing human error.
Teamwork is best trained in the form of lecture, role play, discussion and feedback.

Comprehensive teamwork training such as role play, lecture, feedback and any mix of the three can
increase the likelihood of making positive choices in high stress medical emergencies.
PEER REVIEWED JOURNAL #3
Lecture-Based Training
To teach participants about the training and teamwork concepts.
Is the best approach for information-only transmission.
Lecture training is a mix of a lecture and presentation with or without visual presentation, such
as PowerPoint.
Lecture training has a greater disconnect pertaining to the real tasks of the job than other
methods.
This form of training places the burden of learning the information on the trainer, rather
than the trainee, which can cause training to be ineffective.
Lecture training fails to target the trainees motivation.
PEER REVIEWED JOURNAL #3
During role play:
Trainees are given a description of a specific scenario, or mock scenario.
The trainees are assigned roles.
Each person acts out their specific steps or duties to resolve the scenario.
Following the scenario, the trainer leads a recap offering advice and assistance in better
resolving similar issues in the future.
Problems with role play:
Role play has shown in research to have modest results.
Often, the trainees are assigned roles that do not pertain to their actual place in a real life
situation.
PEER REVIEWED JOURNAL #3

Active Training
Active Training gives the trainer more control because they have the opportunity to
involve the trainees, rather than just talking to them.
Active training involves participants in the training skill which is followed by feedback.
There are 3 types of Active Training
1. Guided Exploration
2. Mastery Training
3. Error Based Training
PEER REVIEWED JOURNAL #3
Guided Exploration
A guided discussion with demonstration.
Usually involves role play with guided self correction and/or trainer feedback.
Leaves room for trainees to explore during the learning process.
Mastery training
Manipulates the environment and training instructions.
Encourages participants to learn all aspects rather than specific tasks.
Involves a measured learning goal orientation, or LGO before and after training which
helps evaluate the effectiveness.
A higher increase in LGO scores means a higher increase in the success of the
training.
PEER REVIEWED JOURNAL #3
Error- Based training
Is a newer form of role play training that is believed to be effective although evidence to
support it is limited.
It is an approach that provides management strategies which help eliminate future error.
Strategies are categorized as follows:
1. Recognizing and avoiding potential error.
2. Recognizing, removing, or attempting to remove an existing error before it becomes
problematic.
3. Alleviating the damage from errors that were not avoided.
This type of training is often used to predict team-work related errors. It gives
employees exposure to possible teamwork related errors that may occur in a healthcare
environment, such as traumatic incidents with patients or high stress scenarios.
CLOSING VIDEO

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dh60rnIMU7M
REFERENCES
Beckham, D., Berry, L., Feussner, J., & Trastek,V. (2015, March 1). Strategic Teamwork in Health Care: The Essential
Role of Physicians. Ohio University Libraries: Physician Leadership Journal. Retrieved from Ohio University Libraries
.
Spicer, T., & Steele, M. (2017). The Importance of Teamwork in Healthcare . In Career Quest Learning Centers .
Retrieved April 13, 2017, from http://www.careerquest.edu/blog/2015/06/importance-teamwork-healthcare
Ray, L. (2017). The Advantages of Teamwork in Today's Health Care Organizations. In Caron. Retrieved April 13,
2017, from http://work.chron.com/advantages-teamwork-todays-health-care-organizations-5143.html
Nguyen, S. (2010, December). EIGHT COMMON PROBLEMS TEAMS ENCOUNTER. In Word: Workplace
Psychology . Retrieved April 13, 2017, from https://workplacepsychology.net/2010/12/17/eight-common-
problems-teams-encounter/

(2013). Collaborating Across Disciplines [Online video]. Youtube. Retrieved from

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-yhdtjVNnWg
McComb, S., & Hebdon, M. (2013). Enhancing Patient Outcomes in Healthcare Systems Through
Multidisciplinary Teamwork. Clinical Journal Of Oncology Nursing, 17(6), 669-672. doi:10.1188/13.CJON.669-670
(2016). Promoting Effective Teamwork in Health [Online video]. Youtube. Retrieved from
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dh60rnIMU7M
Buchbinder, S. B., & Shanks, N. H. (2017). Introduction to Health Care Management (3rd ed., pp. 49-71). Burlingotn,
ME: Jones & Bartlett Learning.