| Learning Objective #1: Understand the barriers to collaborative team practice in primary care | |||
| Learning Objective #2: Learn how the interdisciplinary care plan can address these barriers and contribute to chronic disease care coordination |
The National Academies (2003) reporting in Priority Areas for National Action: Transforming Health Care Quality identified 20 key areas for health care reform. One of the areas identified was chronic disease coordination that requires a collaborative team effort among clinicians. Work supported by a Robert Wood Johnson/Partnerships for Quality Education grant focused on training family nurse practitioner students, family practice residents and Doctor of Pharmacy students to work together as collaborative teams addressing the primary care and management of patients with uncontrolled diabetes, hypertension and/or congestive heart failure. Barriers to collaborative teamwork are:1)a failure to identify a framework for making sense of teamwork,2)lack of knowledge of discipline specific education and training, 3) "turf issues", 4) flawed patterns of communication ,written and oral, and 5) role confusion. One method to address these barriers was an interdisciplinary care plan (ICP). The ICP created a neutral ground for operationalizing team concepts and exploring the unique professional contributions of each team member. It was a useful tool to assign tasks, to tract interventions, foster accountability and encourage clear communication among team members.The ICP was also a mechanism to promote fluid leadership because roles and tasks were assigned based on patient needs not professional status. The ICP incorporated the patient and family as members of the team fostering active participation. The end result was improved patient satisfaction and in some cases, enhanced disease control.
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