Question

Brief summary of what "Team Effectiveness" means in medical terms. Please provide a summary and examples, please! And any references,articles would be helpful.

Answer 1

The team can be defined as small group of people with complementary skills who have common purpose, set performance goals, and hold themselves mutually accountable . The composition of team can be homogenous (similar) and heterogeneity (differences). As per theory the more homogeneous the group, the more cohesive it will be due to similarity. The more heterogeneous the group greater would be differences in one’s perspectives. This enhances potential for creativity group of individuals to work together is not team. The tuckman theory on linear stage says team goes through a life cyclefrom stage like ‘forming, storming, norming and performing.

Step 1: Forming: Team members try to determine their place in the group in this stage along with the procedures and rules of the team. The most important thing about this stage is to make team goals very clear and norms to be agreed by all members.

Step 2: Storming: The team at this stage have member’s resistance at higher level. This is stage where the beginning of query of the task objectives, challenge processes and leadership takes place. There may be some friction amongst the members but honesty and openness can be brought in this stage with able leadership and managing diverse opinions and conflicts and build trust among its member.

Step 3: Norming: At this stage the team discovers new ways to work together and setting norms, enhance cohesiveness and positive cooperation in the members. In this stage conflicts get resolved when members are allowed to express their views and opinions in the group freely.

Step 4: Performing: The team develops efficiency in achieving goals and to see success of doing joint work. The team members becomes comfortable with each other with greater flexibility The regular reviews and meetings at this stage make team more reflective and focused on achieving goals.

Evidences of team effectiveness in health care

Patient care pathway is an integrated approach and diverse field where clinical audit, evidence-based practice, risk management, continuing professional development, the setting of clinical standards, clinical guidelines, workforce planning, and research and development is done . Patient Care Pathways were introduced in the early 1990s in the UK and the USA, and are being increasingly used throughout the developed world. Patient Care Pathways are structured, multi-disciplinary team plans of care designed to support the implementation of clinical guidelines and protocols. Care Pathways aim to improve the continuity and co-ordination of care across different disciplines and sectors. The care pathway model need well coordination and communication support from interdisciplinary team members to provide quality services and reduce the chance of mortality [7]. The report reviewed by Mayor in 2002 a sample of deaths occurring within three days of an intervention between 1 April 2000 and 31 March 2001, tracking each patient's journey through an illness and the delivery of hospital care. A total of 21991 reports of deaths within 30 days of operation were received. About one third of these deaths occurred within the first three days. More than 70% of the patients who died were emergency admissions, who often failed to be fully assessed for other medical problems before intervention. If the team processes is strong its can bring quality management and enables organisational learning, deliver quality health services and improves financial performance.