A Team Is A Group With A Specific Task Or Tasks Completed

A Team Is A Group With A Specific Task Or Tasks The Accomplishment

A team is a group with a specific task or tasks, the accomplishment of which requires the interdependent and collaborative efforts of its members. According to Wise, Beckhard, Rubin, & Kyte (1974), a team is defined as a collective effort aimed at achieving common goals through coordinated work. Grumbach and Bodenheimer (2004) identified five key elements essential to effective team building: clear goals with measurable outcomes, clinical and administrative systems, division of labor, training, and communication. These components facilitate a cohesive and organized team capable of providing high-quality, cost-effective services. In healthcare, teamwork amalgamates diverse expertise and skills, promoting professional collaboration and ultimately enhancing patient care. Despite the benefits, working within interdisciplinary health care teams presents challenges such as threatened autonomy and lack of trust among professionals from different disciplines. Collaboration requires significant skill and flexibility to coordinate efforts across varied backgrounds, all focused on improving service delivery to patients.

Paper For Above instruction

The selected discipline for this paper is medical social work, a vital component of interdisciplinary healthcare teams. Medical social workers are integral to addressing the social, emotional, and environmental factors influencing patients’ health outcomes. In the case study, Claire, a 60-year-old Caucasian female, has been hospitalized for a double mastectomy following a breast cancer diagnosis. Her case underscores the importance of holistic care, which integrates medical treatment with social and psychological support.

Medical social workers assume several primary roles, including assessing psychosocial needs, providing emotional support, advocating for patients, coordinating community resources, and facilitating communication among patients, families, and healthcare providers. They are trained to understand the complex interplay between social determinants of health and medical conditions, enabling them to tailor interventions that promote recovery and quality of life.

In caring for Claire, an effective interdisciplinary team would consist of medical social workers, physicians, nurses, oncologists, mental health professionals, and case managers. Each member has distinct responsibilities: physicians and oncologists lead medical treatment, nurses provide day-to-day patient care, mental health professionals address emotional and psychological concerns, and case managers coordinate resources and discharge planning. The medical social worker acts as a bridge, ensuring the psychosocial aspects are addressed, facilitating communication, and advocating for patient needs within the team.

Collaboration involves regular team meetings, shared decision-making, and respecting each discipline’s expertise. For example, the social worker might inform the medical team about potential social barriers to treatment compliance, such as transportation or financial constraints. Conversely, medical staff might inform the social worker about medical prognosis and treatment plans, enabling more tailored psychosocial interventions. Effective collaboration hinges on shared values such as respect, professionalism, patient-centeredness, and a commitment to holistic care.

However, working within an interdisciplinary team can present challenges. These include differences in professional cultures, potential communication barriers, conflicting priorities, and concerns over professional autonomy. To address these, I would employ strategies such as promoting open dialogue, establishing clear roles and responsibilities, and fostering mutual respect among team members. Regular team meetings and conflict resolution protocols can help ensure alignment and cooperation, ultimately minimizing misunderstandings.

The challenges faced within the team can adversely impact Claire and her family. For instance, poor communication may lead to inconsistent information, confusion, or mistrust, impairing her emotional well-being and adherence to treatment. Emotional support and clarity are vital for her recovery, especially considering her uncertainty about prognosis.

In working with Claire, her family, and stakeholders, I would prioritize patient-centered communication, ensuring her values and preferences guide her care. Engaging her family in discussions, providing education about her condition, and coordinating community resources are essential strategies. Facilitating access to counseling, support groups, and financial assistance programs would also contribute to her holistic well-being and recovery process.

Several resources are available to support social workers in this role. For example, the social work in HIV/AIDS programs outlined by Dando and Finlon (2003) offers models for interdisciplinary collaboration. The Veterans Health Administration emphasizes the importance of integrating social work within healthcare settings (Beder & Postiglione, 2013). Berkman (2011) highlights opportunities for social workers to engage in aging and health initiatives, emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches. The taxonomy of medical social work provided by Maramaldi et al. (2014) offers a framework for understanding the roles and practices involved in such collaborations. Finally, the Institute of Medicine (2012) underscores core principles for effective team-based care, including communication and shared goals, which are critical for optimizing patient outcomes.

References

• Beder, J., & Postiglione, P. (2013). Social work in the Veterans Health Administration (VA) System: Rewards, challenges, roles and interventions. Social Work in Health Care, 52(5), 421–433.
• Berkman, B. J. (2011). Seizing interdisciplinary opportunities in the changing landscape of health and aging: A social work perspective. Gerontologist, 51(4), 433–440.
• Dando, H. H., & Finlon, C. J. (2003). Social work in an interdisciplinary HIV/AIDS program. In B. I. Willinger & A. Rice (Eds.), A history of AIDS social work in hospitals: A daring response to an epidemic (pp. 229–238). New York, NY: Haworth Press. Retrieved from Walden Library databases.
• Maramaldi, P., Sobran, A., Scheck, L., Cusato, N., Lee, I., White, E., & Cadet, T. J. (2014). Interdisciplinary medical social work: A working taxonomy. Social Work in Health Care, 53(6). doi:10.1080/.2014.905817
• Mitchell, P., Wynia, M., Golden, R., McNellis, B., Okun, S., Webb, C. E., & Von Kohorn, I. (2012). Core principles & values of effective team-based health care [Discussion paper]. Washington, DC: Institute of Medicine.
• Willinger, B. I., & Rice, A. (Eds.). (2003). A history of AIDS social work in hospitals: A daring response to an epidemic. Haworth Press.
• Partnership for Health in Aging. (2011). Position statement on interdisciplinary team training in geriatrics. Retrieved from [URL]
• Wise, J. A., Beckhard, R., Rubin, I., & Kyte, B. (1974). The nature of teams. Harvard Business Review.
• Additional peer-reviewed articles and guidelines relevant to interdisciplinary healthcare teams and social work practice (to be added as per the latest scholarly sources).