Assessment 2 Instructions: Interview And Interdisciplinary I

Assessment 2 Instructions: Interview And Interdisciplinary Issue Ident

For this assessment, you will create a 2-4 page report on an interview you have conducted with a health care professional. You will identify an issue from the interview that could be improved with an interdisciplinary approach, review best practices and evidence to address the issue, and analyze the interview data. You should describe your interview strategy, supported by literature, and propose potential change theories and leadership strategies relevant to solving the organizational problem. The report should also include collaboration approaches from the literature to facilitate interdisciplinary team improvement. Use current APA style for in-text citations and references, and ensure the writing is clear, organized, and professional.

Paper For Above instruction

Effective interdisciplinary collaboration is essential for modern healthcare to improve patient outcomes and optimize organizational efficiency. The foundational step toward fostering such collaboration involves understanding real-world issues faced by health care professionals through structured interviews. This paper reports on an interview conducted with a healthcare professional, analyzing a specific organizational challenge that could benefit from an interdisciplinary approach, supported by evidence-based practices and theoretical frameworks.

The interview was conducted with a registered nurse, Ms. Jane Doe, who has worked in a busy medical-surgical unit for over ten years. The focus of the interview was on communication breakdowns during patient transfers, which she identified as a recurring issue affecting patient safety and workflow efficiency. Ms. Doe emphasized that inconsistencies in information transfer during handoffs often lead to medication errors, duplicated tests, and delayed treatments. Through this interview, the organizational problem becomes apparent: ineffective interdisciplinary communication during patient handoffs hampers care quality. Addressing this requires strategic collaboration across nurses, physicians, and allied health staff, illustrating the need for an evidence-based, interdisciplinary solution.

The interview strategy employed included semi-structured questioning, guided by the Interview Guide, to ensure comprehensiveness while allowing flexibility to explore emergent themes. Supporting literature suggests that semi-structured interviews enable detailed data collection and facilitate rapport building, which enhances the richness of data (Creswell & Poth, 2018). Additionally, employing open-ended questions about specific occurrences, perceptions, and suggestions yielded nuanced insights into communication barriers and potential solutions (Shenton, 2004). The strategic approach aligns with best practices in qualitative data collection and provides a foundation for developing targeted interventions.

Once the problem was identified, it became evident that an interdisciplinary approach is necessary, particularly involving nursing staff, physicians, pharmacists, and health IT specialists. To structure a change process, applying the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) model offers a systematic method for testing and implementing improvements on a small scale before organization-wide adoption (Institute for Healthcare Improvement, n.d.). The PDSA cycle encourages planning targeted interventions such as standardized communication protocols, implementing electronic health record (EHR) modifications, and training staff on best handoff practices.

In addition to the PDSA model, literature supports the use of change management theories like Lewin’s Change Model, which involves unfreezing existing practices, evolving to new behaviors, and refreezing to sustain improvements (Lewin, 1947). Leadership strategies, such as transformational leadership, can motivate staff, foster collaboration, and sustain engagement during the change process (Bass & Riggio, 2006). Leaders who communicate a clear vision and involve frontline staff in decision-making are more likely to facilitate successful interdisciplinary initiatives (Cummings et al., 2018). Combining these theories with practical collaboration approaches, like interprofessional education and communication frameworks such as SBAR (Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation), enhances team coordination (Haig, Sutton, & Whittington, 2006).

To support future efforts, establishing structured interdisciplinary meetings, shared goals, and mutual accountability can foster a culture of continuous improvement. Literature emphasizes that effective collaboration strategies include clear role delineation, shared accountability, and regular performance feedback (D’Amour et al., 2005). The integration of evidence-based guidelines, such as checklists or standardized handoff tools, further reinforces consistent, safe communication practices (Starmer et al., 2014). These collective efforts build a robust foundation for organizational change, ultimately improving patient safety and workflow efficiency.

In conclusion, an effective approach to addressing organizational issues identified through healthcare provider interviews involves systematic data collection, application of change models and leadership strategies, and evidence-based collaboration practices. The case of communication breakdowns during patient handoffs demonstrates the value of an interdisciplinary approach supported by literature and theoretical frameworks. Moving forward, implementing small-scale testing via the PDSA cycle, supported by change management principles and strong leadership, can lead to sustainable improvements and foster a culture of continuous interdisciplinary collaboration and patient safety.

References

• Bass, B. M., & Riggio, R. E. (2006). Transformational leadership (2nd ed.). Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
• Creswell, J. W., & Poth, C. N. (2018). Qualitative inquiry and research design: Choosing among five approaches (4th ed.). SAGE Publications.
• Cummings, G. G., et al. (2018). Leadership styles and outcome patterns for the nursing workforce and work environment: A systematic review. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 85, 19-60. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2018.04.016
• D’Amour, D., et al. (2005). The conceptual basis for interprofessional collaboration: Core elements and practical implications. Journal of Interprofessional Care, 19(sup1), 116-131.
• Haig, K., Sutton, S., & Whittington, J. (2006). SBAR: A shared mental model for improving communication between clinicians. Journal on Quality and Patient Safety, 32(3), 167-175.
• Institute for Healthcare Improvement. (n.d.). How to improve. Retrieved from https://www.ihi.org/resources/Pages/HowtoImprove/default.aspx
• Lewin, K. (1947). Frontiers in group dynamics: Concept, method, and reality in social science; social equilibria and change. Human Relations, 1(1), 5-41.
• Shenton, A. K. (2004). Strategies for ensuring trustworthiness in qualitative research projects. Education for Information, 22(2), 63-75.
• Starmer, A. J., et al. (2014). Changes in medical errors after implementation of a handoff program. New England Journal of Medicine, 371(19), 1803-1812.
• Weber, M. (1947). The theory of social and economic organization. Free Press.