title: Teamwork in health care. Lessons from the literature and from good practice around the world.
abstract: It is becoming more difficult to provide health care that meets the needs of patients within tight budget constraints. This article suggests that one way forward is to channel the energies of people more constructively to work as teams. Some definitions are shown for teams and teamwork, and four benefits suggested of effective teamwork: learning and development, resource management, task performance and communications. In each of these four areas, examples are given from the international world of health care of how teamwork can be achieved. Finally, it is concluded that teamwork can be difficult, but that it is worth pursuing.
authors.affiliation: School of Management Studies for the Service Sector, University of Surrey, Guildford, UK.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ingram
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Desombre
mesh_terms: D006126:Group Processes; D006801:Humans; D007324:Institutional Management Teams; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D007858:Learning; D010348:Patient Care Team; D013222:State Medicine / Q000458:organization & administration*; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D006113:United Kingdom