What is Teamwork - Meaning and definition

Published by Roberto Wenk. Reviewed by Alison Ramsey. Last updated date: September 10, 2019.

"Teamwork represents a set of values that encourage listening and constructive response to the views expressed by others, giving others the benefit of the doubt, providing support, and recognizing the interests and achievements of others. Such values help teams to perform, and they also promote individual performance as well as the performance of an entire organization."
Katzenbach J. and Smith D.

"If they don´t have scars, they haven´t worked on a team. Teams don´t just happen. They slowly and painfully evolve. The process is never complete. The work involved is usually underestimated."
Mount, B.

Storey P and Knight CF. Unipac five: communication and the physician´s role in the interdisciplinary team. Reston, Virginia. American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine. 1998. p. 90.

Published by Roberto Wenk. Reviewed by Alison Ramsey. Last updated date: September 10, 2019.

The team approach is important in palliative care.
An interdisciplinary team works collaboratively and makes group decisions about patient care.
In palliative care, an interdisciplinary team can comprises a variety of disciplines. The core team should consist of at least: one physician, one nurse ,and one member from a psychosocial discipline; it may also include a chaplains, an art therapist, an occupational therapist, a speech therapist, and volunteers.

Regular team meetings help in consensus building, and each member contributes knowledge and skills from their own experience. For a team to function effectively, there should be appropriate communication; goals and roles must be clear with a focus on the patient and family.
Threats to the team include role overload, conflict, and stress in providing care to patients with advanced disease and complex needs.

Paice JA. The Interdisciplinary Team. Emanuel LL, Librach SL (Ed). Palliative Care – Core Skills and Clinical Competencies. 2nd ed. St.Louis, Missouri, Elsevier, 2011. pp. 540-551.

Teamwork

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