2024 Leadership Development Course-Building Teams CHEST Stoller

Building Teams CHEST Stoller

Pdf Summary

The article "Building Teams in Health Care" by James K. Stoller, MD, underscores the crucial role of teamwork in achieving superior clinical outcomes. It highlights the challenge that despite the significance of team-building in healthcare, it is rarely included in medical training, leaving many physicians to learn through a hidden curriculum.<br /><br />In healthcare settings, where diverse skills are required to cater to patients effectively, well-formed teams are essential. The article offers insights into creating effective teams, particularly within a pulmonary consult service scenario. Attributes of successful teams include a clear purpose, defined roles, psychological safety, shared leadership, and open communication.<br /><br />The process of creating an effective team involves understanding common dysfunctions such as lack of trust and fear of conflict, and implementing best practices such as setting clear goals, promoting an inclusive environment, and ensuring effective communication.<br /><br />Dr. Stoller emphasizes the need for a positive team culture, advocating for appreciative inquiry as a strategy to foster a strengths-based, rather than problem-centric, approach within teams. He provides practical steps for team formation, such as initial meetings to define goals and roles, which are pivotal in establishing a collaborative culture.<br /><br />Furthermore, the article reviews the evidence linking effective teamwork with improved clinical outcomes, citing studies demonstrating how teamwork leads to better survival rates in ICUs, more accurate diagnoses, and successful resuscitations. This underscores the urgency for healthcare professionals to gain competencies in team-building to enhance patient care.<br /><br />In conclusion, the article serves as a guide for healthcare professionals to adopt structured team-building practices, emphasizing the predictable positives of improved team dynamics on patient outcomes.

Keywords

healthcare teamwork

clinical outcomes

medical training

team-building

psychological safety

shared leadership

effective communication

appreciative inquiry

team culture

patient care