Interdisciplinary Approach to Addressing Organizational Issues in Healthcare

by | Sep 10, 2024 | Nursing

Scenario
This assessment is the first of three related assessments in which you will gather interview information (Assessment 2); design a proposal for interdisciplinary problem-solving, (Assessment 3); and report on how an interdisciplinary improvement plan could be implemented in a place of practice (Assessment 4). At the end of the course, your interviewee will have a proposal plan based on the PDSA cycle that he or she could present to stakeholders to address an interdisciplinary problem in the workplace.

For this assessment, you will need to interview a health care professional such as a fellow learner, nursing colleague, administrator, business partner, or another appropriate person who could provide you with sufficient information regarding an organizational problem that he or she is experiencing or has experienced, or an area where they are seeking improvements. Consult the for an outline of how to prepare and the types of information you will need to complete this project successfully.

Remember: this is just the first in a series of three assessments.

Instructions
For this assessment, you will report on the information that you collected in your interview, analyzing the interview data and identifying a past or current issue that would benefit from an interdisciplinary approach. This could be an issue that has not been addressed by an interdisciplinary approach or one that could benefit from improvements related to the interdisciplinary approach currently being used. You will discuss the interview strategy that you used to collect information. Your interview strategy should be supported by citations from the literature. Additionally, you will start laying the foundation for your Interdisciplinary Plan Proposal (Assessment 3) by researching potential change theories, leadership strategies, and collaboration approaches that could be relevant to issue you have identified. Please be certain to review the scoring guide to confirm specific required elements of this assessment. Note that there are differences between basic, proficient and distinguished scores.

When submitting your plan, use the which will help you to stay organized and concise. As you complete the template, make sure you use APA format for in-text citations for the evidence and best practices that are informing your plan, as well as for the reference list at the end.

Additionally, be sure to address the following, which corresponds to the grading criteria in the scoring guide. Please study the scoring guide carefully so you understand what is needed for a distinguished score.

Summarize an interview focused on past or current issues at a health care organization.
Identify an issue from an interview for which an evidence-based interdisciplinary approach would be appropriate.
Describe potential change theories and leadership strategies that could inform an interdisciplinary solution to an organizational issue.
Describe collaboration approaches from the literature that could facilitate establishing or improving an interdisciplinary team to address an organizational issue.
Communicate with writing that is clear, logically organized, and professional, with correct grammar and spelling, and using current APA style.

 

Sample Answer

Sample Answer

 

Interdisciplinary Approach to Addressing Organizational Issues in Healthcare

Summary of the Interview

For this assessment, I conducted an interview with a nursing colleague who has experience working in a busy urban hospital. The focus of our conversation was on the challenges faced by healthcare professionals in managing patient care and communication across disciplines. The interviewee highlighted a recurring issue: the inadequate coordination among various healthcare teams, which often leads to delays in patient treatment and increased risk for adverse outcomes.

During the interview, I employed a semi-structured format, allowing for open-ended questions that encouraged the interviewee to elaborate on their experiences. Questions included: “What specific challenges have you encountered in interdisciplinary collaboration?” and “Can you provide examples of how these challenges have affected patient outcomes?” According to Creswell (2014), semi-structured interviews are effective for gathering detailed qualitative data as they provide flexibility while ensuring key topics are covered.

Identified Issue

The primary issue identified from the interview is the lack of effective communication and coordination between nursing staff and other healthcare professionals, such as physicians, pharmacists, and social workers. The interviewee explained that this disconnect often results in fragmented care delivery, where critical information may not be shared promptly, leading to delayed treatments and increased lengths of stay for patients. An evidence-based interdisciplinary approach would be appropriate to address this issue, as it can enhance communication protocols and foster collaborative practice among healthcare providers (Reeves et al., 2016).

Change Theories and Leadership Strategies

To inform an interdisciplinary solution to this organizational issue, several change theories could be applied. One relevant theory is Lewin’s Change Management Model, which consists of three stages: unfreezing, change, and refreezing (Lewin, 1947). This model can help facilitate the transition from current practices to new methods of communication and collaboration.

Leadership strategies such as transformational leadership can also play a crucial role. Transformational leaders inspire and motivate team members to work towards a shared vision, which is essential when implementing changes to interdisciplinary practices. By fostering a culture of mutual respect and open communication, transformational leaders can encourage collaboration among diverse healthcare teams (Bass & Steidlmeier, 1999).

Collaboration Approaches

Several collaboration approaches from the literature could facilitate establishing or improving an interdisciplinary team. One effective strategy is the use of interprofessional education (IPE), which promotes learning among students from different health professions. According to Thistlethwaite (2012), IPE fosters teamwork and communication skills vital for effective interdisciplinary practice.

Moreover, utilizing structured communication tools, such as SBAR (Situation-Background-Assessment-Recommendation), can enhance information sharing among team members (Hunt et al., 2018). These tools provide a clear framework for conveying critical information succinctly, thereby reducing misunderstandings and improving patient safety.

Conclusion

In summary, the interview revealed significant issues related to communication and coordination among healthcare professionals that hinder effective patient care. By employing evidence-based interdisciplinary approaches informed by change theories and leadership strategies, as well as utilizing collaborative practices like interprofessional education and structured communication tools, the organization can make strides towards improving interdisciplinary collaboration. As I prepare for the next assessments in this series, I will continue researching effective strategies to propose a comprehensive interdisciplinary plan that will benefit both healthcare professionals and patients alike.

References

– Bass, B. M., & Steidlmeier, P. (1999). Ethics, character, and authentic transformational leadership behavior. The Leadership Quarterly, 10(2), 181-217. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1048-9843(99)00016-8
– Creswell, J. W. (2014). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches (4th ed.). Sage Publications.
– Hunt, C., Kearney, M., & Tully, P. (2018). Improving patient safety through structured communication: The SBAR technique. Journal of Nursing Care Quality, 33(2), 170-173. https://doi.org/10.1097/NCQ.0000000000000300
– Lewin, K. (1947). Frontiers in group dynamics: Concept, method and reality in social science; social equilibria and social change. Human Relations, 1(5), 5-41. https://doi.org/10.1177/001872674700100103
– Reeves, S., Pelone, F., Harrison, R., & Goldman, J. (2016). Interprofessional collaboration to improve professional practice and healthcare outcomes. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, (3). https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD000072.pub3
– Thistlethwaite, J. E. (2012). Interprofessional education: A review of context, learning and the research agenda. Medical Education, 46(3), 228-237. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2923.2011.04143.x

This structured approach adheres to APA format and provides clarity on the issues faced in interdisciplinary healthcare settings while laying the groundwork for future assessments on strategic improvements.

 

 

 

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