[INTRODUCTION & AIM]

Focusing on patient-centered care is essential for enhancing the quality of healthcare. It aims to create positive patient experiences by delivering medical treatment that is customized to individual preferences, needs, and values.

The medical field comprises a diverse range of professions, each with unique structures. The interactions among these professions play a crucial role in shaping patient experiences and ultimately influencing outcomes.

This study is focused on examining how interprofessional collaborative teamwork strategies can be utilized to enhance patient-centered care within the medical environment.

 

[METHOD]

1. Forming three ‘HeartTogether’ Teams

The team is composed of skilled professionals from diverse backgrounds, including physicians, nurses, nursing assistants, medical laboratory technologists, environmental management staff, patient transporters, and security and administrative personnel.

The team members each gained valuable insight into their role within the patient treatment process.

As a result of the team's interaction, successfully developed a communication strategy that emphasizes the significance of collaborative.

 

2. Developing the operational tool and  manual for the teamwork strategy program

The manual will feature effective seating arrangements, methods for interdisciplinary communication, and standardized key questions for different topics during the program.

 

3. Selecting specific indicators, conducted surveys, and analyzed the data

Indicator of Patient Experience(based patient’s survey) : Overall rating of Hospital, communication with Doctors, Nurses, and Hospital Staff

Indictor of Teamwork (based on participating staff’s survey) : Patient Experience, Collaboration/Teamwork, Communication

 

[RESULTS]

We established ‘HeartTogether’ teams comprising seven different professions and organized a range of activities to significantly enhance patient-centered care. These activities encompassed multiple workshops with a total of 52 participants and an examination of the effectiveness of operational tool and manual.

Based on a patient experience survey (n=340), there has been a 2.65% increase in patients, leading to a score of 81.62 compared to the previous year.

The results from pre and post program surveys (n=46) completed by participating staff indisputably demonstrated a noteworthy improvement in teamwork indicators related to Patient Experience (2.41%), Collaboration/Teamwork (4.37%), and Communication (8.70%).

It suggests that employing a cross-disciplinary teamwork strategy has a positive impact on creating a patient-centered medical culture.

 

[CONCLUSIONS]

The study suggests that effective teamwork among different healthcare professionals is crucial for improving communication skills and providing patient-centered care. Collaborative teamwork plays a vital role in fostering mutual respect for various professions and enhancing the overall patient experience.

It can offer suggestions for policies and practices designed to provide patient-centered healthcare services.

 

[CONTACT INFORMATION]

YunJin Choi, RN 

E-mail: yjchoi@snuh.org