Research from the National Academy of Medicine found "team-based" healthcare is linked to improved patient outcomes and clinician wellbeing.
Researchers defined successful teamwork as having a clear and compelling goal or purpose, an enabling social structure, supporting organizational context and coaching from a teamwork expert. The researchers compared results of studies done on team-based healthcare to draw their conclusions.
Here are the key research takeaways;
1. Team-based care is associated with better quality in the areas of emergency department utilization and hospital readmission.
2. Cross-sectional, observational studies have shown team-based healthcare reduces physician burnout. Having good team culture and tight-knit teams compared to interprofessional team structure is predictive of the level of emotional exhaustion in physicians.
3. "Team-based care — or the provision of care by two or more health clinicians who work collaboratively with patients and their caregivers to accomplish shared goals — presents a unique opportunity to achieve key aims of a high-quality health system," the researchers concluded. "Successful teams have the capacity to improve patient outcomes, the efficiency of care and the satisfaction and well-being of health care clinicians."
Click here to read the full study.