3.4.a Team-Based Health Care

Team-based health care is the provision of health services to individuals, families and/or their communities by at least two health providers who work collaboratively with patients and their caregivers.” - Naylor et al., 2010 (4)

Health care teams work together in many ways. Some teams work more closely, such as when teams work in an office, clinic, or hospital floor together. Other teams work more remotely from each other, such as in community-based care, primary care, or specialty care. To qualify as a team, people have to work together in one way or another.

High functioning teams make better decisions, cope more effectively with complex tasks, and better coordinate their actions and allocate their expertise.(5) Despite growing awareness of the benefits, how teams work is still something that remains somewhat elusive. Some teams perform better than the sum of their parts while others do not. How people function in a team is shaped by the experiences that they have had both personally and professionally.

 

 

 Personal Reflection

Think back to your first experience working in any team (ex: sports, school, office).

How were decisions made?
Who had the power? Who had control? How was this decided?
How did people address difficult topics?
How did people express anger?
How did people listen to and understand each other? Did you feel heard and understood?

Now, think about working in a health care team. Ask yourself the same questions as above. 
How are these two experiences different? How are they similar?

Do you see a pattern in your own contribution and role within a team? Do you see any differences in yourself across your different team experiences? Do you have a preference for a style of contributing to a team? Why?