title: Effective teamwork in healthcare: research and reality.
abstract: Issues affecting health workplaces range from serious concerns that could affect the immediate physical safety of workers to those that would improve productivity and efficiency, or make an organization a preferred employer. Employers and workers might consider effective teamwork an asset, but for patients it is a prerequisite. This paper reviews the evidence for effective teamwork, primarily that gathered by a research team funded by the Canadian Health Services Research Foundation (CHSRF). We also review the expert opinion provided by a group of 25 researchers and decision makers convened by CHSRF in late 2005 at a forum for discussion about issues related to effective teamwork. Included in the retreat were representatives from professional organizations and occupations as well as areas such as legal liability. Taken together, the research and expert opinion provide a comprehensive overview of the benefits of effective teamwork and the conditions needed for its implementation. In addition, we review policy and management perspectives on the most significant challenges to the implementation of effective teamwork in the Canadian context, and potential opportunities to overcome these obstacles.
authors.affiliation: Canadian Health Services Research Foundation.
authors.forename: Dave
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Clements
authors.forename: Mylène
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dault
authors.forename: Alicia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Priest
mesh_terms: D002170:Canada; D003659:Decision Making, Organizational; D004059:Diffusion of Innovation; D006126:Group Processes; D006268:Health Facilities / Q000592:standards*; D006284:Health Plan Implementation; D006291:Health Policy / Q000639:trends*; D006293:Health Promotion; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D016272:Occupational Health; D015279:Organizational Culture; D016134:Organizational Policy; D010348:Patient Care Team; D010559:Personnel Management / Q000592:standards; D017132:Workplace / Q000592:standards*