The Effects of Multidisciplinary Collaboration on Patient Care Interprofessional collaboration (IPC) is the process through which individuals from a variety of disciplines work together to achieve a common identified goal (Zwarenstein, Goldman, & Reeves, 2009). In the healthcare setting, IPC often takes place in the form of multidisciplinary or interdisciplinary teams (MDTs/ IDTs), which are composed of physicians, nurses, pharmacists, dieticians, and social workers, among others, whose primary goal is to improve patient care. The benefits of utilizing these teams in the healthcare setting are vastly expansive and well documented. Interdisciplinary practice has been recognized by the World Health Organization as a leading strategy to improve
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MDT meetings have proven to be so beneficial that one group of researchers suggest it is essential and has become the standard of care (Chu, Hawley, Munk, Mallinson, & Clarkson, 2014). Researchers have noted that regular interdisciplinary rounding provides multiple perspectives and reduces communication barriers between disciplines thus improving patient care (Cornell, Townsend-Gervis, Vardaman, & Yates, 2014). Studies assessing the effects of MDT discussions and conferences on management of cancer patients have also indicated that MDTs make a significant impact on the course of patient management by offering excellent communication, the exchange of highly specialized expertise and understanding, and optimize the conditions around the procedures performed on these patients (Boxer, Vinod, Shafiq, & Duggan, 2011; Chu et al., 2014). The literature consistently strongly recommends the use of MDT meetings as they have been shown to significantly improve patient outcomes, reduce readmission rates which has a positive financial impact for hospitals and is consistent with The Joint Commission recommendations to improve communication and safety (Townsend-Gervis, Cornell, & Vardaman, 2014). Multiple sources of literature suggest that dedicating time and financial support to accommodate for MDT meetings is a beneficial investment that …show more content…
Both studies indicated that the use of the SBAR communication tool increased staff situational awareness by increasing the rate of patient review times (Cornell et al., 2014) and care provided (Townsend-Gervis et al., 2014). However, Cornell et al. reported no significant decrease in length of stay with use of the structured communication tools (2014). Furthermore, evidence supporting the benefits of using the structured communication tools on patient satisfaction was not statistically significant among either study (Cornell et al., 2014; Townsend-Gervis et al., 2014). In summary, use of structured communication tools during interdisciplinary rounds has partially been shown to improve patient outcomes (Townsend-Gervis et al., 2014), but this use does not significantly impact patient satisfaction (Cornell et al., 2014; Townsend-Gervis et al., 2014). Staff situation awareness of patients was the only variable shown to improve with use of the structured tools during interdisciplinary rounds between both studies (Cornell et al., 2014; Townsend-Gervis et al.,
MDT meetings have proven to be so beneficial that one group of researchers suggest it is essential and has become the standard of care (Chu, Hawley, Munk, Mallinson, & Clarkson, 2014). Researchers have noted that regular interdisciplinary rounding provides multiple perspectives and reduces communication barriers between disciplines thus improving patient care (Cornell, Townsend-Gervis, Vardaman, & Yates, 2014). Studies assessing the effects of MDT discussions and conferences on management of cancer patients have also indicated that MDTs make a significant impact on the course of patient management by offering excellent communication, the exchange of highly specialized expertise and understanding, and optimize the conditions around the procedures performed on these patients (Boxer, Vinod, Shafiq, & Duggan, 2011; Chu et al., 2014). The literature consistently strongly recommends the use of MDT meetings as they have been shown to significantly improve patient outcomes, reduce readmission rates which has a positive financial impact for hospitals and is consistent with The Joint Commission recommendations to improve communication and safety (Townsend-Gervis, Cornell, & Vardaman, 2014). Multiple sources of literature suggest that dedicating time and financial support to accommodate for MDT meetings is a beneficial investment that …show more content…
Both studies indicated that the use of the SBAR communication tool increased staff situational awareness by increasing the rate of patient review times (Cornell et al., 2014) and care provided (Townsend-Gervis et al., 2014). However, Cornell et al. reported no significant decrease in length of stay with use of the structured communication tools (2014). Furthermore, evidence supporting the benefits of using the structured communication tools on patient satisfaction was not statistically significant among either study (Cornell et al., 2014; Townsend-Gervis et al., 2014). In summary, use of structured communication tools during interdisciplinary rounds has partially been shown to improve patient outcomes (Townsend-Gervis et al., 2014), but this use does not significantly impact patient satisfaction (Cornell et al., 2014; Townsend-Gervis et al., 2014). Staff situation awareness of patients was the only variable shown to improve with use of the structured tools during interdisciplinary rounds between both studies (Cornell et al., 2014; Townsend-Gervis et al.,