A Pilot for Understanding Interdisciplinary Teams in Rehabilitation Practice

Abstract

Interdisciplinary teams in rehabilitation are effective for positive patient outcomes. They require skills in team building and interprofessional collaboration. The Institute of Medicine has interdisciplinary teams as one of the five core competencies for healthcare workers. In reviewing the literature on teams, several themes were developed, such as communication, collaboration, understanding of roles, and educational levels of team members. Using these themes, a survey was developed to assess perceptions of teams by rehabilitation nurses, physical therapists, and occupational therapists. Significant findings came from questions on educational levels of team members between nurses and occupational therapists and also within the nursing groups. Open-ended questions asked about barriers and facilitators for effective teams. We hope that these pilot results will lead to discussions on how to improve interdisciplinary teams and make them more effective for better patient outcomes.

Knowledge about and Attitudes of Interdisciplinary Team Members toward Occupational Therapy Practice: Implications and Future Directions

“…The tenets underpinning occupational therapy (OT) as a health care profession contend that people are occupational beings who need to participate in everyday activities to promote health, maximize function, and achieve self-actualization [6]. However, a lack of awareness of the OT knowledge base among other team members, as well as a lack of understanding about the nature of the occupation and its effect on health and well-being are factors that have been found to limit effective interdisciplinary teamwork [1, 7]. …”

“…The success of teamwork may require proper communication, shared collaboration, and an understanding of the roles of each discipline within the health care team [1]. An important factor that limits successful interdisciplinary teamwork, however, could relate to the lack of understanding of the specific roles that each profession can contribute to the whole team [3, 4].…”

“…Interdisciplinary teamwork requires a high level of collaboration and communication between health care professionals; it has been shown to prevent duplication of services, promote satisfaction among team members, minimize fragmentation of care, reduce health care costs, and to facilitate higher levels of patient satisfaction [1, 2]. The success of teamwork may require proper communication, shared collaboration, and an understanding of the roles of each discipline within the health care team [1].…”

Hverdagsrehabilitering - integrert eller spesialisert?

“…Dette stemmer med ulike beskrivelser av teamarbeid og teamorganisering (Assmann 2008, Birkeland et. al., 2017, Johanson et.al., 2010, Thylefors et.al., 2005, White et. al, 2013.…”

“…Mye tyder på at tverrfaglige team i en del sammenhenger kan bidra til større kostnadseffektivitet, mer laering og kompetanse, mer helhetstenkning, kontinuitet og mer tilfredshet både hos brukere og ansatte (Assmann, 2008, Birkeland et. al., 2017, Johanson, Eklund & Gosman -Hedstrøm, 2010, Nandram 2014, Thylefors, Persson & Hellström, 2005, White et. al., 2013.…”