An Evaluation of the Communication Process for Surgical and Recovery Team - Coursework Example

Evaluating Evaluating Introduction An organizational team entails a set of groups of people brought together by an array of corresponding skills required to acquire a number of set goals. This paper presents an evaluation of the communication process for 2 specified organizational teams (surgical and recovery team), using a randomly selected health care organization – Theatre environment of Zuri Hospital. It presents an analysis of a scholarly model of communication (interprofessional collaboration), strengths and weaknesses of the communication processes and individual roles, along with legal considerations. Additionally, this paper presents an evaluation of 5 conflict resolution methods and a conflict resolution method that is best applicable to both teams and rationale for this decision. Finally, this paper presents a conclusion of the findings and literature applied. Analysis of interprofessional collaboration between surgical and recovery team Interprofessional collaboration is a complex communication process that poses a number of features. According to Scholl, Koelewijn-van Loon and Sepucha, et al. (2011), interprofessional collaboration, in a nursing setting or health care environment is described as the process of division of planning, decision making, goal setting, accountability assumptions and problem solving processes which links with working jointly. This process fosters harmonization of efforts in a team or group. Working as a team or collaboratively is a common term in the health care environment, where the health care providers strive to work together in order to achieve positive health outcomes. The surgical and recovery team work in harmony to achieve their set goals and objectives which entail achieving a positive health outcome. In particular, the surgical team carries out the surgery procedures on the patients in the surgery environments whereas the recovery team plays the role of assisting the patients in recovering from the surgical procedures (Scholl et al., 2011). This entails taking the patients from the surgical room and providing them with the necessary care that they need in order to triumph over the surgery to a normal life (Schrijvers, van Hoorn & Huiskes, 2012). Over and above, both the surgical and the recovery team play a significant role in enabling the patient achieve beneficial health outcomes. This is made possible via collaborative working process where everyone embraces communication through effective reporting and handover. Strengths and weaknesses of collaborative practice Strengths Interprofessional collaborations foster exchange of knowledge, improved patient health outcomes, improved health care service satisfaction and an effective resource utilization. In particular, the team members get a chance to share knowledge with regard to the patient’s health, treatment/surgery and recovery plans. At this point, the surgery and recovery team stand a chance to employ appropriate legal and ethical considerations that agree with the team’s goals (Scholl et al., 2011). In this regard, every team member’s contributions are appreciated. It is possible avert mistakes in a team than on individual grounds. Whenever, the team engages the service users in a collaborative practice, positive health outcomes are achieved. This is considering that the patient begins to embrace their clinical situations and further appreciates the surgical and recovery process selected. This creates satisfaction in the health care service delivery whereby the practitioners begin to enjoy their job in addition to making the patients satisfied with the services provided (Scholl et al., 2011). In addition, the surgical and recovery team end up utilizing the available health resources through collaborative efforts. Every team member plays a significant role in employing invaluable materials/resources that help foster the group’s objectives. Ultimately, the health care industry is regulated with standards of practice which revolves around collaborative practice and joint decision making (Bridges, Davidson, Odegard, Maki & Tomkowiak, 2011). This means that the surgical and recovery team are obligated to work collaboratively in order to avert surgery treatment risks and achieve positive health outcomes. Weaknesses Irrespective of the given strengths of collaborative practice, there are a number of weaknesses which may hamper the expected outcomes. There are instances where team members disagree, a factor that can ruin their motivation levels. This includes group conflicts, such as problems with the leadership in the group or decision made (Bridges et al., 2011). Some members of the group may feel as if their views are not appreciated or contributions sidelined. This entails discrimination on account of various demographical factors, such as gender, social class, knowledge, skills and experience. There are instances where one or two team members may begin to face competition from the other team members. Even though competition is healthy in a team, it may begin to erode their spirit and leave others feeling demeaned (Bridges et al., 2011). It is also apparent that decisions may take more time to be made as compared to individual approaches. This may delay the surgical treatment process or recovery plans. Collaborative practice may foster generalized solutions to health care problems, which can lead to weakened health care processes or approaches (Engel & Prentice, 2013). Lack of commitment may also shatter the dream of the entire surgical and recovery team members. This also goes hand in hand with team members holding different and conflicting objectives. Also, individual relationships with the patients or service users may hamper the collaborative approaches. 5 conflict resolution methods In order to avert the weaknesses observed in the interprofessional collaborative practice, the following must be integrated. First, the team members should be provided with unifying ideologies that foster joint working process and decision making. The members should be fostered to develop commitment to a common objective of collaboration. This should entail acquiring the value of embracing different views and opinions from group members with diverse professions. According to Engel and Prentice (2013), when individuals embrace other professions, contributions and views, it will be possible to achieve collaborative objectives. Secondly, the team members should be informed about the need to develop positive attitudes about their individual professions. It is clear that failure to embrace individual abilities and profession leads to poor contributions in a team. Thirdly, the team members should also see the value of every team members which entail giving each other a chance to present their contributions without discrimination. Fourthly, members should develop accountability in all their actions in the group. According to Bankston and Glazer (2013), members who have a sense of accountability in a group always achieve the common goal of the group. Finally, the team members should be ready to resolve their conflicts and disagreement. According to Bankston and Glazer (2013), team members who see the value of resolving conflicts, such as by employing negotiation skills easily overcome stumbling blocks and further work in harmony. One resolution for the team and rationale The best way to ensure that the team works in harmony and avoids the weaknesses pointed out is by fostering ethical and legal considerations of practice. This entails the standards of practice where every health care provider is entitled to (Bankston & Glazer, 2013). Whenever the health care team members will appreciate the ethical and legal considerations of practice, then working collaboratively will be well-organized and professional. This will be made possible by primarily ensuring that the team members are aware about the specific ethical and legal considerations that they are duty-bound. This is because, it is clear that, the weaknesses pointed out, revolve around ethical and legal disregard. Conclusion In conclusion, communication process in a health care organization between teams is fundamental in achieving the set goals. In a health care environment, organization team includes a group of individuals with matching abilities, knowledge and experience. These people aim at achieving a number of objectives standardized by the group’s goals. This paper established that interprofessional collaboration is significant joint communication processes that can help foster positive health outcomes in a surgical environment. This communication process poses a number of strengths to both the organizational team in a theatre environment. However, it also presents a number of weaknesses which include conflicts among team members. In this regard, the health care providers must always employ applicable conflict resolutions and strategies that foster communication and enhanced collaborative practice in a health care setting. References Bankston, K., & Glazer, G. (2013). Legislative: Interprofessional collaboration: What’s taking so long?" OJIN: The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing, 19(1). Retrieved from: http://www.nursingworld.org/MainMenuCategories/ANAMarketplace/ANAPeriodicals/ OJIN/Columns/Legislative/Interprofessional-Collaboration.html Bridges, D. R., Davidson, R. A., Odegard, P. S., Maki, I. V., & Tomkowiak, J. (2011). Interprofessional collaboration: three best practice models of interprofessional education, Med Educ Online, 16(10), 3402/meo.v16i0.6035. Engel, J., & Prentice, D. (2013). The ethics of interprofessional collaboration. Nursing Ethics, 20 (4), 426-435. Scholl, I., Koelewijn-van Loon, M., & Sepucha, K., et al. (2011). Measurement of shared decision making - a review of instruments, Zeitschrift Für Evidenz, Fortbildung Und Qualität Im Gesundheitswesen,105(4), 313–24. Schrijvers, G., van Hoorn, A., & Huiskes, N. (2012). The care pathway: Concepts and theories: An introduction, International Journal of Integrated Care, 12, e192. Read More