NURS FPX 4010 Assessment 2 Interview and Interdisciplinary Issue Identification​

Interview and Interdisciplinary Issue Identification

In the pursuit of enhancing patient care and organizational efficiency, healthcare professionals increasingly recognize the critical role of interdisciplinary collaboration (Omondi & Atieno, 2019). This assessment delves into the essential components of such collaboration, drawing from an interview with a healthcare professional to identify a pertinent organizational issue. The subsequent exploration of evidence-based interdisciplinary approaches, change theories, leadership strategies, and collaborative models from credible sources will provide a foundation for devising a comprehensive solution to the identified challenge, ultimately aimed at optimizing care for patients with complex chronic conditions (Omondi & Atieno, 2019).

Summary of Interview

In the conducted interview with a healthcare professional, the primary focus was to identify past or current issues within their healthcare organization that could benefit from an interdisciplinary approach. The interview was structured to ensure the gathering of sufficient information and insights. The interviewer employed a systematic approach, utilizing open-ended questions and active listening to encourage the interviewee to share their experiences and observations openly.

During the interview, the healthcare professional highlighted a specific issue related to patient care coordination and communication between various healthcare teams within the organization. They emphasized that the lack of effective interdisciplinary collaboration sometimes led to delays in patient care, duplication of efforts, and inefficiencies (Dartiguelongue & Cafiero, 2021). To gather comprehensive information, the interviewer used probing questions to delve deeper into the issue, such as inquiring about specific incidents or challenges faced by the healthcare professional and their team due to this issue.

The interviewee’s perspective and experiences provided valuable insights into the problem, which will be crucial for designing an interdisciplinary improvement project. The structured interview approach helped ensure that the interviewee’s knowledge and expertise were effectively tapped to identify areas where interdisciplinary strategies could be applied to enhance patient care and organizational efficiency.

Interdisciplinary Approach for Identified Issue

From the interview with the healthcare professional, it became evident that an issue well-suited for an evidence-based interdisciplinary approach is the coordination of care for patients with complex chronic conditions. This issue justifies an interdisciplinary approach for several reasons. Firstly, patients with complex chronic conditions often require the expertise of multiple healthcare disciplines, including physicians, nurses, social workers, and specialists, to manage their conditions effectively (Hudon et al., 2020). An interdisciplinary team approach can facilitate better coordination among these professionals, ensuring that each patient receives comprehensive, holistic care tailored to their unique needs (Hudon et al., 2020).

Secondly, evidence-based interdisciplinary collaboration has been shown to improve patient outcomes and reduce healthcare costs. By bringing together professionals from different disciplines, each with their specialized knowledge and skills, healthcare organizations can develop and implement evidence-based plans that address aspects of complex chronic conditions (Seostianin, 2020). This approach can lead to better disease management, fewer hospital readmissions, and improved patient satisfaction. Moreover, it can help identify and mitigate potential complications or medication interactions that may go unnoticed in a single-discipline care model (Seostianin, 2020). 

Potential Change Theories and Leadership Strategies

In developing solution to the issue of care coordination for patients with complex chronic conditions, several change theories and leadership strategies can be considered (Stanz et al., 2021). One potential change theory is Lewin’s Change Management Model, which consists of three stages: unfreezing, change, and refreezing (Stanz et al., 2021). In this context, the “unfreezing” stage would involve raising awareness among healthcare professionals about the need for interdisciplinary collaboration and the benefits it can bring.

Leadership strategies for implementing this change could involve a transformational leadership style. In this case, leaders could engage healthcare professionals in the development of interdisciplinary care protocols and emphasize the importance of patient-centered care. Credible sources such as guidelines from reputable healthcare organizations and input from interdisciplinary experts within the organization should inform the development of these protocols (Fagerström, 2021). Additionally, leaders can employ Kotter’s Eight-Step Change Model to provide a structured approach to implementing and sustaining interdisciplinary collaboration within the healthcare field to support these efforts (Fagerström, 2021). 

Collaborative Approach for Interdisciplinary Teams to Address Organizational Issues

Several collaborative approaches could be highly relevant in improving an interdisciplinary team. One credible source that stands out is the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI), known for its evidence-based practices in healthcare (Nundy et al., 2022). They emphasize the importance of creating interdisciplinary teams that include various healthcare professionals. (Nundy et al., 2022). IHI’s Collaborative Model for Achieving Breakthrough Improvement provides guidance on how to bring together these diverse professionals to work on common goals, improve care processes, and enhance patient outcomes. Their approach is grounded in robust research and successful case studies.

Another valuable source is the AHRQ, a government agency dedicated to improving healthcare quality and safety (Brach & Borsky, 2020). AHRQ offers a wealth of resources on interdisciplinary teamwork and care coordination, making it particularly relevant to the organizational issue at hand (Brach & Borsky, 2020). Their Team STEPPS framework provides evidence-based strategies and tools for enhancing teamwork and communication among healthcare professionals (Mohsen et al., 2021). This source is credible and applicable due to its focus on practical solutions for improving interdisciplinary collaboration, aligning well with the issue of optimizing care for patients with complex chronic conditions through interdisciplinary teamwork.  

Conclusion

In conclusion, the journey through this assessment has illuminated the significance of interdisciplinary collaboration in addressing the organizational issue of care coordination for patients with complex chronic conditions. The interview insights, coupled with evidence-based interdisciplinary approaches and leadership strategies, have laid the groundwork for a transformative solution. By drawing on credible sources and collaborative models such as those from the Institute for Healthcare Improvement and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, healthcare organizations can aspire to establish interdisciplinary teams that seamlessly deliver patient-centered care, improving both patient outcomes and the overall healthcare landscape. This holistic approach underscores the enduring importance of interdisciplinary teamwork as a driving force for positive change in healthcare organizations.

References

Brach, C., & Borsky, A. (2020). How the U.S. agency for healthcare research and quality promotes health literate health care. Studies in Health Technology and Informatics, 269, 313–323. https://doi.org/10.3233/SHTI200046 

Dartiguelongue, J., & Cafiero, P. (2021). Communication in health care teams. Archivos Argentinos de Pediatria, 119(6). https://doi.org/10.5546/aap.2021.eng.e589 

Fagerström, L. M. (2021). Leading change when implementing advanced practice nursing. A Caring Advanced Practice Nursing Model, 10, 219–233. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-53555-1_12 

Hudon, C., Chouinard, M.-C., Beaulieu, M.-D., Bisson, M., Bouliane, D., Couture, M., Dumont, S., Groulx, A., & Sabourin, V. (2020). Towards better health, social, and community-based services integration for patients with chronic conditions and complex care needs: Stakeholders’ recommendations. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(22), 8437. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17228437 

Mohsen, M. M., Gab Allah, A. R., Amer, N. A., Rashed, A. B., & Shokr, E. A. (2021). Team strategies and tools to enhance performance and patient safety at primary healthcare units: Effect on patients’ outcomes. Nursing Forum, 56(4). https://doi.org/10.1111/nuf.12627 

Nundy, S., Cooper, L. A., & Mate, K. S. (2022). The quintuple aim for health care improvement. JAMA, 327(6). https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2021.25181 

Omondi, O., & Atieno, O. D. (2019). Interdisciplinary collaboration: Experience of working in an interdisciplinary team in healthcare at the MOI teaching and referral hospital, intensive care unit. Semantic Scholar. https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Interdisciplinary-Collaboration%3A-Experience-of-in-Omondi-Atieno/b26b77de3826cc87ef270b1a2046890bc68419fc 

Seostianin, M. (2020). Towards effective collaboration of physicians and pharmacists on the care of older people. Journal of Medical Science, 89(2), e424. https://doi.org/10.20883/medical.e424 

Stanz, L., Silverstein, S., Vo, D., & Thompson, J. (2021). Leading through rapid change management. Hospital Pharmacy, 001857872110468. https://doi.org/10.1177/00185787211046855