Health Care Teamwork

For fifty years, health care teams have been a misunderstood, undervalued, and neglected part of health care. Yet, as Drinka and Clark make clear, well functioning interdisciplinary health care teams (IHCTs) have the potential to help the health care system face its demons—financial constraints and comprehensive error-free care. Because of misunderstandings, administrators, funders, and policy makers keep the potential for interdisciplinary teams hidden. Health care educators teach versions of teamwork that are inadequate and clinicians cling to autonomous modes of practice. IHCTs have characteristics and problems that are unique to health care settings and the health providers who work in them. Drinka and Clark present a groundbreaking attempt to develop a comprehensive framework for IHCTs. They intend to empower clinicians who work on teams and educators who teach teamwork to impart the basic essentials of effective interdisciplinary teamwork in the health professions. Until now, much of the thinking about IHCTs has been drawn from the research and practice literature from other fields, such as business and group dynamics, which may be of only limited relevance to health care settings. Drinka and Clark present new ways of thinking about team development and maintenance, leadership, conflict, the science and art of practice, communication, and team members as teachers and learners. Anyone who is currently working in health care or is considering a career in health care should read this book.