Case Management is a team sport, and like in all sports, there is no I in team, and the team members have to respect each other and work together. In this article, I would like to discuss the benefits and strategies of incorporating multidisciplinary perspectives, such as social workers, pharmacists, physicians, therapists, psychologists, and the other disciplines that comprise the multidisciplinary healthcare workforce.
No case manager can have all the answers, so working together to solve problems and provide the best services possible is vital. Your co-workers can be a valuable source of information, especially during crises. Case managers come from varying backgrounds based on education and work experience. These differences create a diverse knowledge base, providing the team with high expertise and diversity.
It is important to remember that the patient and their family are key members of any team in healthcare. Including them helps ensure they are heard and engaged in their care and plan of care.
Knowledge/Experience
Case managers bring knowledge to the job as they gain experience. We all learn from each other. Your colleagues can inspire you to advance your education to help you progress in your career. Diverse backgrounds help you understand people and their uniqueness. Learning from each other allows you to grow professionally and personally.
Problem-Solving
Teamwork is also used to solve problems. Just when you think you have everything under control, something unexpected comes up that can blow up the whole plan. Another team member may have dealt with a similar situation and can provide support. These insights usually happen in team meetings and in-services and in settings where you get to step away from the day-to-day pressures of work and take time to think, brainstorm, and learn.
Also, as you dig further into a case with a complex patient, you often find issues you might need more expertise to meet your client’s needs. A diverse team allows you to reach out to learn or even transfer the patient to another team member.
Resources
Knowledge of resources is one of the keys to providing quality case management services. Co-workers can provide valuable resources that help you meet your client’s needs. Case managers can tap into their co-worker’s expertise in cultural diversity, social determinants of health, and varying disease states.
Teamwork is essential in today’s fast-paced healthcare environment to deliver safe, effective, quality, cost-effective care to those we are called to care for, regardless of your setting.
Collaboration, cooperation, and communication are competencies among team members. Effective teamwork enhances productivity and increases employee engagement and job satisfaction.
To build a strong team, the five Cs of teamwork are Communication, Camaraderie, Commitment, Confidence, and Coachability.
Best of luck as you build your team!
Anne Llewellyn, MS, BHSA, RN, CRRN, CMGT-BC, BCPA, FCM is a registered nurse with 50 + years of clinical experience. She is a digital journalist writing for various e-newsletters focused on digital health, workers’ compensation, case management, and educating people to be their best healthcare advocates.
Anne has a substantial following from healthcare professionals who follow her for information, events, and trends impacting health and healthcare. You can learn more about Anne at www.nursesadvocates.com. You can reach Anne by email at allewellyn48@gmail.com.