Although healthcare provider specialization has the potential to improve patient care, the continuity of care from doctor to doctor can sometimes feel broken. A primary care physician often sees patients before specialists and a slew of nurses and other healthcare workers, such as physical therapists and pharmacists. While this division of labor can guarantee that patients receive expert-level treatment at all stages, it can also generate issues. If all healthcare professionals participating in a patient’s treatment are not operating as a team, uncertainty and miscommunication can harm the patient’s health outcomes. Interprofessional collaboration (IPC) can help with this.
The World Health Organization defines it as: “many health workers from various professional backgrounds working together with patients, families, caregivers, and communities to provide the best quality of care.” One could argue that hospital teams have always done this. However, interprofessional collaboration entails more than just data sharing and basic communication between nurses and physicians. All care team members must engage with the patient and one another, and leaders must put any ego aside for the sake of the patient.
A substantial amount of research shows that when disciplines collaborate toward a shared purpose that focuses on the patient, patient outcomes, quality of care, and cost of care delivery are all optimized. We can help eliminate inefficiencies in patient care by refocusing our work through an interprofessional lens. This means that examinations and therapies are carried out concurrently, emphasizing the patient as a whole rather than a single diagnosis or treatment. Some of the other benefits include:
Empowering employees
Until the advent of interprofessional teamwork, the doctor was seen as the center of patient care. The doctor used to make most critical decisions regarding a patient’s treatment and care. Other members of a patient’s medical team, such as nurses with post master’s DNP online certification, are now empowered to make suggestions about patient treatment as the emphasis on interprofessional collaboration grows. The online Post-DNP Master’s program at the University of Indianapolis teaches nurses about advanced policies, advocacy, leadership, and translational research skills, allowing them to impact healthcare innovation and enhance patient and population health outcomes.
Lower staff turnover rates
Working in healthcare might make you feel like a cog in a machine. Of course, caring for patients is an essential aspect of your profession. Still, it is not the only component that contributes to job satisfaction. One of the most significant advantages of interprofessional collaboration in healthcare is increased worker retention. Employees want to know that their contributions are valued. As a result, firms that adopt interprofessional collaboration programs tend to have lower turnover rates among their employees than those that do not.
Reduce costs
There are numerous advantages to interprofessional teamwork. Experts can share their knowledge and skills by working together to deliver better patient care. This can lead to better patient outcomes and higher patient and professional satisfaction. Furthermore, interprofessional teamwork can help to save costs by enhancing efficiency and eliminating service duplication.
To conclude
Collaboration, when done well, can mean the difference between success and failure. Collaboration is crucial in the healthcare business to promote the flow of critical knowledge, deliver improved patient care, and potentially save lives. However, achieving high levels of collaboration and team cohesion among healthcare practitioners takes time and effort. It necessitates a combination of policies, best practices, and tools to assist teams in working more effectively.