Agency Ideal Work Element: Trust and Respect

2020 ◽  
pp. 95-98
Author(s):  
Stephen J. Swensen ◽  
Tait D. Shanafelt
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Work Environment ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Organizational Mission ◽  
Team Members ◽  
Treat All

Health care professionals need to feel trusted by the leaders of their organization. Micromanagement and unnecessary adherence to process without justification are the antithesis of trust and respect. Without trust and the supportive, respectful environment it creates, health care professionals will be less likely to do their best or be invested in the organizational mission. Organizations build trust and respect by making every attempt to treat all staff fairly. All team members must work together to make sure an inclusive and respectful work environment is created and maintained.

Collective soul: The spirituality of an interdisciplinary palliative care team

2006 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 13-24 ◽  
Author(s):  
SHANE SINCLAIR ◽  
SHELLEY RAFFIN ◽  
JOSE PEREIRA ◽  
NANCY GUEBERT
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Palliative Care ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Palliative Care Team ◽  
Care Team ◽  
Cancer Center ◽  
Team Members ◽  
Spiritual Journeys ◽  
Common Goals

Objective:Although spirituality as it relates to patients is gaining increasing attention, less is known about how health care professionals (HCP) experience spirituality personally or collectively in the workplace. This study explores the collective spirituality of an interdisciplinary palliative care team, by studying how individuals felt about their own spirituality, whether there was a shared sense of a team spirituality, how spirituality related to the care the team provided to patients and whether they felt that they provided spiritual care.Methods:A qualitative autoethnographic approach was used. The study was conducted in a 10-bed Tertiary Palliative Care Unit (TPCU) in a large acute-care referral hospital and cancer center. Interdisciplinary team members of the TPCU were invited to participate in one-to-one interviews and/or focus groups. Five interviews and three focus groups were conducted with a total of 20 participants.Results:Initially participants struggled to define spirituality. Concepts of spirituality relating to integrity, wholeness, meaning, and personal journeying emerged. For many, spirituality is inherently relational. Others acknowledged transcendence as an element of spirituality. Spirituality was described as being wrapped in caring and often manifests in small daily acts of kindness and of love, embedded within routine acts of caring. Palliative care served as a catalyst for team members' own spiritual journeys. For some participants, palliative care represented a spiritual calling. A collective spirituality stemming from common goals, values, and belonging surfaced.Significance of results:This was the first known study that focused specifically on the exploration of a collective spirituality. The culture of palliative care seems to foster spiritual reflection among health care professionals both as individuals and as a whole. While spirituality was difficult to describe, it was a shared experience often tangibly present in the provision of care on all levels.

Interdisciplinary Health Care Evaluation Instruments: A Review of Psychometric Evidence

2021 ◽  
pp. 016327872110408
Author(s):  
Hosung (Joel) Kang ◽  
Cecilia Flores-Sandoval ◽  
Benson Law ◽  
Shannon Sibbald
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Assessment Tools ◽  
Team Members ◽  
Team Assessment ◽  
Health Care Evaluation ◽  
Team Functioning ◽  
Interdisciplinary Health Care ◽  
Psychometric Evidence ◽  
Improve Patient

Teamwork among health care professionals has been found to improve patient outcomes and reduce burnout. Surveys from individual team members are often used to measure the effectiveness of teamwork performance, as they provide an efficient way to capture various constructs of teamwork. This allows evaluators to better understand team functioning, areas of strength, and to identify potential areas for improvement. However, the majority of published surveys are yet to be validated. We conducted a review of psychometric evidence to identify instruments frequently used in practice and identified in the literature. The databases searched included MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, and PsycINFO. After excluding duplicates and irrelevant articles, 15 articles met the inclusion criteria for full assessment. Seven surveys were validated and most frequently identified in the literature. This review aims to facilitate the selection of instruments that are most appropriate for research and clinical practice. More research is required to develop surveys that better reflect the current reality of teamwork in our evolving health system, including a greater consideration for patient as team members. Additionally, more research is needed to encompass an increasing development of team assessment tools.

Making Ethics Work in Collaborative Projects

2005 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 101
Author(s):  
Emily Mauldon
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Primary Health Care ◽  
Research Ethics ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Ethics Committees ◽  
Research Process ◽  
Ethical Review ◽  
Ethical Research ◽  
Team Members ◽  
Primary Health

This article discusses problems a research team had managing their ethical obligations during a short project, and considers the implications of these problems for better understanding and carrying out ethical research in the future. Two key points will be proposed. Initially, it will be argued that the culture of ethical research as articulated within the research community may not be universally accepted within the primary health care sector. The nature of "ethical conduct" within clinical practice, service provision and research is not the same. Further, practical difficulties the researchers experienced while trying to gain approval from ethics committees and implement the proposed research plan highlight some ways in which institutional ethical review processes are structurally unsuited to the requirements of small collaborative projects. Understanding the different ways in which the term "ethics" is used will allow for a more expedient translation of concepts between different health professionals. Recognising the practical constraints ethical review places on the research process may help reduce some of the frustration primary health care professionals can experience when faced with the requirements of research ethics committees. Due to the history of, and cultural commitment to, ethical research within the university sector, those with formal academic training in research are well placed to assume responsibility for managing the ethics process when involved in cross-sectoral research. This responsibility may include the need to educate team members and study participants about the importance of research ethics.

Establishing a Mutually Respectful Environment in the Workplace: A Toolbox for Performance Excellence

2019 ◽  
pp. e219-e226 ◽  
Author(s):  
Narjust Duma ◽  
Shail Maingi ◽  
William D. Tap ◽  
Colin D. Weekes ◽  
Charles R. Thomas
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Work Performance ◽  
Performance Excellence ◽  
Political Climate ◽  
Negative Behaviors ◽  
Team Members ◽  
Emotional Environment ◽  
Overall Job Satisfaction

Most health care professionals spend a substantial amount of their time at the workplace. Our interactions with team members can define our daily experiences, impact our work performance, and influence our overall job satisfaction. Over the last years, how we interact with colleagues and patients has changed with the introduction of social media, a tenser political climate, and an evolving health care system. In oncology, a team can be composed of medical students, clinicians, and support and administrative staff within a heavy emotional environment where some of our patients are facing the risk of early mortality and most are dealing with the unmeasurable burden of cancer. Many of these factors can increase the risk for professionalism lapses. We discuss common challenges faced in the practice of cancer care, including the generational gap between medical trainees and senior members, gender disparities, and microaggressions. Microaggressions represent verbal, behavioral, and environmental indignities that communicate hostile, derogatory, and negative slights that insult a target person or group. Microaggressions should not be accepted as the norm in the workplace. It is essential to recognize these negative behaviors and manage them effectively to reduce or even prevent the long-term toxicities that these behaviors can bring to the workplace environment. Ultimately, we must acknowledge that these issues exist and remember that education and collaboration are the pillars of an inclusive workplace. We owe such efforts to our patients who deserve good care, to our partners in the care of patients so that they feel supported and included, and to ourselves.

scholarly journals The Experience of Providing Physical Therapy in a Changing Health Care Environment

2002 ◽  
Vol 82 (7) ◽  
pp. 648-657 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rosemary Blau ◽  
Sarah Bolus ◽  
Terrence Carolan ◽  
Daniel Kramer ◽  
Elizabeth Mahoney ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Work Environment ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Phenomenological Study ◽  
Physical Therapists ◽  
Medical Center ◽  
Systemic Change ◽  
Academic Medical Center ◽  
Health Care Environment ◽  
Care Environment

Abstract Background and Purpose. The changes in the health care environment during the last decade have had an impact on the roles and responsibilities of all health care professionals. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe the experience of staff physical therapists during a time of systemic change within a large urban academic medical center. Subjects and Methods. Participants were 5 physical therapists working in various clinical settings within the medical center. The participants were interviewed and asked the question “Over the past 4 years, there have been major changes in your work environment. What has it been like for you working as a clinician during this time of change?” Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed to find thematic patterns of responses. Results. Four common themes emerged in which participants described experiencing loss of control, stress, discontent, and disheartenment. A fifth theme showed that despite these negative feelings, participants were able to “find the silver lining” in their daily work lives (ie, they were able to find positive aspects of their professional lives despite the perceived unpleasant changes with which they had to cope). Discussion and Conclusion. This study provides insight into the experiences of a group of staff physical therapists during a time of systemic change in their work environment. Although the themes reflect largely unsettling and negative experiences, there seems to be an underlying ability to find affirmative aspects of work.

Coherence Ideal Work Element: Fairness and Equity

2020 ◽  
pp. 159-162
Author(s):  
Stephen J. Swensen ◽  
Tait D. Shanafelt
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Work Environment ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Work Schedules ◽  
The Ideal ◽  
The Way

Fairness and equity are important elements of the ideal work environment. Health care professionals need transparency in all matters that make sense including the way pay, privileges, and work schedules are determined. This Ideal Work Element also requires fair and just accountability to provide support when clinicians experience a traumatic patient adverse care event.

Agency Action: Removing Pebbles

2020 ◽  
pp. 121-136
Author(s):  
Stephen J. Swensen ◽  
Tait D. Shanafelt
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Work Environment ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Participative Management ◽  
Management Process ◽  
Work Unit ◽  
Agency Action

The identification and removal of sources of frustration and inefficiency requires a partnership of leaders and health care professionals. This participative management process treats health care professionals as trusted and respected colleagues. It results in a more friendly work environment and a cohesive team that is able to more readily navigate the occupational challenges that arise. The process of identifying and removing pebbles starts with an unrushed conversation with the health care professionals of a given work unit. The local challenges that often surface in these discussions frequently involve disorganization and processes that diminish meaning or that impede caring for patients.

scholarly journals Health care providers’ roles and responsibilities in management of polypharmacy: Results of a modified Delphi

2018 ◽  
Vol 151 (6) ◽  
pp. 395-407 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barbara Farrell ◽  
Wade Thompson ◽  
Cody D. Black ◽  
Douglas Archibald ◽  
Lalitha Raman-Wilms ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Group Discussion ◽  
Medication Management ◽  
Role Clarity ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Management Competencies ◽  
Team Members ◽  
Importance Ratings

Background: Little is known about the roles that allow interprofessional teams to effectively manage older patients experiencing polypharmacy. Objectives: To identify and examine the consensus on salient interprofessional roles, responsibilities and competencies required in managing polypharmacy. Methods: Four focus groups with 35 team members practising in geriatrics were generated to inform survey development. The sessions generated 63 competencies, roles or responsibilities, which were categorized into 4 domains defined by the Canadian Interprofessional Health Collaborative. The resulting survey was administered nationally to geriatric health care professionals who were asked to rate the importance of each item in managing polypharmacy; we sought agreement within and across professions using a confirmatory 2-round Delphi method. Results: Round 1 was completed by 98 survey respondents and round 2 by 72. There was high intra-professional and interprofessional consensus regarding the importance of competencies among physicians, nurses and pharmacists; though pharmacists rated fewer competencies as important. Less consensus was observed among other health care professionals or they indicated the nonimportance of competencies despite focus group discussion to the contrary. Discussion: Although there is a strong consensus of polypharmacy management competencies across team members who have been more traditionally involved in medication management, there continue to be health care providers with differing understandings of competencies that may contribute to reduced reliance on medication. Lower importance ratings suggest pharmacists may not acknowledge or recognize their own potential roles in interprofessional polypharmacy management. Conclusion: Further exploration to understand the underutilization of professional expertise in managing polypharmacy will contribute to refining role clarity and translating competencies in practical settings, as well as guiding educators regarding curricular content.

scholarly journals Challenges and benefits of working in teams – Interpersonal interactions in health care

2017 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 11-19
Author(s):  
G. Bányai ◽  
K. Bíró
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Patient Involvement ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Care Process ◽  
Organizational Responses ◽  
Team Members ◽  
Working Groups ◽  
Psychological Harassment ◽  
Paternalistic Approach

Teamwork has become the accepted way of doing one’s job. This is so true even profession’s that were considered an exception are shifting towards teamwork. Apart from the well-known benefits, there seems to be a downside of the enforcement of this work strategy. Conflicts, frictions, frustration in working groups can affect the dignity, psychological or physical integrity of team members, generally referred to as psychological harassment, workplace bullying or mobbing. The outcomes of the phenomenon are various negative organizational responses. Health care is somewhat lagging behind in this shift towards working in teams, but with increasing specialization greater coordination is needed between health care professionals. Above all, the patient wishes to be more involved in the health care process. Research suggests that patient involvement and working in teams have a positive impact on effectiveness and patient mortality, respectively. One of the challenges for health care is to include the patient in the teamwork process as an equal member of the group and at the same time overcome the drawbacks mentioned above, in a setting where a traditional, paternalistic approach is still present and the vulnerability of the patient (and his/her dignity) is evident.

scholarly journals Managing and Mitigating Suffering in the Return-to-Work Process

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Megan Woods ◽  
Mandy L. Matthewson
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Return To Work ◽  
Work Environment ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Psychological Wellbeing ◽  
Workers Compensation ◽  
Key Factors ◽  
Work Process ◽  
Serious Illness ◽  
Existential Suffering

Each year thousands of workers experience a serious illness or injury that necessitates time off work and a subsequent re-engagement with the work environment. In Australia, workers’ compensation legislation mandates the return-to-work (RTW) process is formal, structured, and negotiated between the worker, their employer, health care professionals and their RTW coordinator. How this is executed by those parties directly influences whether the RTW process is supportive and successful, or exacerbates the suffering of returning workers by causing them to feel ostracised, exposed, and vulnerable in their workplace. In this article, we examine how the RTW process can cause physical, emotional, social, and existential suffering for returning workers. We then discuss how the suffering that workers experience can be mitigated by five key factors: clarity of roles in the RTW process, alignment of worker and employer expectations, the advocacy provided by the RTW coordinator, the support provided for the worker’s psychological wellbeing, and the RTW literacy of supervisors and colleagues.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document